Mr. Shamapande , who had worked previously in statewide and national Democratic campaigns , argued during the trial that he was involved in the early stages of County Executive Thomas Suozzi 's run for governor including setting up a meeting with political consultant Bill Lynch , attending strategy meetings during the 2004 Democratic National Convention , and writing a " Fix Albany " campaign strategy memo for Mr. Suozzi 's " Fix Albany " campaign . Shamapande 's legal team argued , that the duties performed by Mr. Shamapande - while legal - could be politically embarrassing to County Executive Suozzi because they showed that Suozzi was spending a considerable amount of time and resources preparing for a run for governor . Mr. Shamapande 's attorney , Domonick Porco , argued that , " Shamapande , who had worked as a political consultant for state and national Democrats , was hired in 2003 to provide political assistance to Suozzi , then eying a run for governor , " and his time-sheets were filed in that context . Mr. Porco contended further that , " Shamapande 's county work was no different in 2005 than in 2004 . " In what was a surprise to the court room , Shamapande 's defense did n't call a single witness . Dominic Porco commented to Newsday , " This case was clearly politically motivated - anyone in the court room saw that . The prosecution was n't even close to meeting its burden , so I felt no need to call any witnesses . " On February 25 , 2006 , Thomas Suozzi announced that he was challenging then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York State . During his announcement speech he pledged to " fix the culture of Albany . " On December 2 of 2006 , after a week and a half of testimony , a Nassau county jury deliberated less than one hour and found that the one-time Nassau County consultant " did not file false instruments nor defraud county taxpayers . " After the trial Shomwa Shamapande commented to Newsday about the remarkably quick decision by the jury , " I am gratified that the jury returned a verdict so quickly , and that they understood what I went through -- not just during this trial but during this process . " In a '' Washington Post '' interview in 2012 , regarding the political investigation of DC Mayor Vincent Grey , Shamapande talked about his firsthand experience with the perils of a political rush to judgment , " The mayor has a right to due process , I 've been accused of something I did n't do . I went to court and defended myself and won an acquittal . Anyone can be accused and look guilty in the process . You can look really guilty in the media . " In the 2012 Washington Post article , someone in the group Mr. Shamapande was having lunch with brought up Grey 's silence in the face of several accusations . Shamapande responded , " After being charged with a crime , I can tell you , I looked guilty ( in the media ) . . . and I had to shut up and listen to my attorney because you do n't want to tip off your best defense and hurt your own case . " In 2008 , Mr. Shamapande worked as a Communications Specialist and Spokesman for the United Nations Commission for the Legal Empowerment of the Poor , which was co-chaired by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and prominent Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto . The Commission addressed poverty and legal empowerment of the poor globally with specific recommendations for the developing world . The Commission argued that , " two in every three people on the planet — some four billion in total — are " excluded from the rule of law . " In many cases , this begins with the lack of official recognition of their birth : around 40 % of the developing world 's five-year-old children are not registered as even existing . " The Commission completed its work in July 2008
2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
Shomwa Shamapande