Romano's parents moved to New York City from Puerto Rico and settled down in the Bronx where he was born and raised. His grandfather, a dairy farmer, immigrated from Palermo, Italy to Puerto Rico and married a local Puerto Rican woman. His family was poor, Romano grew up on Simpson Street in the South Bronx and his father worked in a factory that made cigarette holders.[1]
Romano went to Morris High School where he played in the school's baseball and was good enough to be an All-City second baseman. After graduating from Morris High School Romano went to and graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972.[2] In 1976, he graduated from Columbia Law School earning his Juris Doctor degree, and becoming the first member of his family to go to college.[1] In 1977, he was admitted to the New York Bar.
Careeredit
United States attorneyedit
External videos
Benito Romano's participation in the documentary "Mr. Untouchable"
During his seven years in the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District, he was chief of the corruption unit under United States Attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani at the height of the municipal scandals. Romano as chief of the public corruption unit, played a crucial role in the negotiations during which Geoffrey A. Lindenauer, an official in the city's Parking Violations Bureau, was persuaded to testify for the Government. Romano later was named associate United States attorney, the third-ranking position.[1]
Joseph A. Califano, Jr., the former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, hired Romano as director of the New York State Commission on Government Integrity and later recruited Romano to his law firm.[1]
On February 1, 1989, Romano was named the interim replacement for Giuliani as the Federal prosecutor in Manhattan. Romano has endorsed the major insider-trading cases and the emphasis on drug, organized-crime and government-corruption prosecutions that began in Giuliani's term.[3] When the New York Times headline An Italian Name was published describing the crime-fighting achievement of Romano, he was quick to clarify that he identifies himself as a Puerto Rican and not as an Italian.[4]
On September 7, 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Otto G. Obermaier, a defense lawyer, as the permanent successor to Giuliani[5] and on September 22, 1989, Obermaier was confirmed by the United States Senate as Giuliani's successor.
Private practiceedit
Subsequent to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Romano was a partner for 20 years at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and the leader of their white collar defense practice. He is currently a partner in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's litigation practice group in New York City, and focuses his practice on white collar defense including SEC, FINRA, regulatory enforcement proceedings, and related complex civil litigation.[6]
On April 17, 2006, Romano, who is married and the father of five children, was appointed by New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to serve on the newly created, four-member legal advisory committee to the New York City Police Department.[7]
benito, romano, born, 1950, first, puerto, rican, hold, united, states, attorney, post, york, interim, basis, united, states, attorney, southern, district, yorkinterimin, office, january, 1989, october, 1989presidentronald, reagangeorge, bushpreceded, byrudy, . Benito Romano born 1950 was the first Puerto Rican to hold a United States Attorney s post in New York on an interim basis Benito RomanoUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New YorkInterimIn office January 1 1989 October 16 1989PresidentRonald ReaganGeorge H W BushPreceded byRudy GiulianiSucceeded byOtto G ObermaierPersonal detailsBorn1950 age 73 74 Bronx New YorkNationalityPuerto Rican AmericanChildren5Alma materNew York University BA Columbia University JD OccupationLawyer Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 United States attorney 2 2 Private practice 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education editRomano s parents moved to New York City from Puerto Rico and settled down in the Bronx where he was born and raised His grandfather a dairy farmer immigrated from Palermo Italy to Puerto Rico and married a local Puerto Rican woman His family was poor Romano grew up on Simpson Street in the South Bronx and his father worked in a factory that made cigarette holders 1 Romano went to Morris High School where he played in the school s baseball and was good enough to be an All City second baseman After graduating from Morris High School Romano went to and graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972 2 In 1976 he graduated from Columbia Law School earning his Juris Doctor degree and becoming the first member of his family to go to college 1 In 1977 he was admitted to the New York Bar Career editUnited States attorney edit External videos nbsp Benito Romano s participation in the documentary Mr Untouchable During his seven years in the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District he was chief of the corruption unit under United States Attorney Rudolph W Giuliani at the height of the municipal scandals Romano as chief of the public corruption unit played a crucial role in the negotiations during which Geoffrey A Lindenauer an official in the city s Parking Violations Bureau was persuaded to testify for the Government Romano later was named associate United States attorney the third ranking position 1 Joseph A Califano Jr the former Secretary of Health Education and Welfare hired Romano as director of the New York State Commission on Government Integrity and later recruited Romano to his law firm 1 On February 1 1989 Romano was named the interim replacement for Giuliani as the Federal prosecutor in Manhattan Romano has endorsed the major insider trading cases and the emphasis on drug organized crime and government corruption prosecutions that began in Giuliani s term 3 When the New York Times headline An Italian Name was published describing the crime fighting achievement of Romano he was quick to clarify that he identifies himself as a Puerto Rican and not as an Italian 4 On September 7 1989 President George H W Bush nominated Otto G Obermaier a defense lawyer as the permanent successor to Giuliani 5 and on September 22 1989 Obermaier was confirmed by the United States Senate as Giuliani s successor Private practice edit Subsequent to the U S Attorney s Office Romano was a partner for 20 years at the law firm of Willkie Farr amp Gallagher and the leader of their white collar defense practice He is currently a partner in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer s litigation practice group in New York City and focuses his practice on white collar defense including SEC FINRA regulatory enforcement proceedings and related complex civil litigation 6 On April 17 2006 Romano who is married and the father of five children was appointed by New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W Kelly to serve on the newly created four member legal advisory committee to the New York City Police Department 7 See also edit nbsp Puerto Rico portal nbsp Biography portalList of Puerto Ricans Judges and law enforcement Joe Sanchez Louis Diaz Nicky BarnesReferences edit a b c d New York Times Interim U S Attorney Street Smart and Fair By DENNIS HEVESI Published January 11 1989 Our Firm Get to Know Freeh Sporkin amp Sullivan LLP New York Times The Low Key Style Of Giuliani s Successor By WILLIAM GLABERSON Published April 1 1989 New York Times TOPICS OF THE TIMES Not Italian but Puerto Rican published March 17 1987 New York Times Defense Lawyer Picked As Successor to Giuliani By WILLIAM GLABERSON Published September 7 1989 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Benito Romano Appointed to Special NYPD Legal Advisory CommitteeExternal links editAppearances on C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benito Romano amp oldid 1186122916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
