When people ask what Robert Brooks was convicted of, they are usually looking for one of two very different stories. One is a tale of a 2013 massive mortgage fraud ring in Texas. The other, more recent and far more tragic, involves a man named Robert L. Brooks who became the center of one of the most significant prison reform scandals in New York history.
Honestly, the confusion is understandable. Names repeat, but the lives behind them don't.
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The 2017 Assault Conviction of Robert L. Brooks
To understand the tragedy that happened later, you've got to look at why Robert L. Brooks was in the system to begin with. In 2017, Brooks was a 43-year-old musician. He was convicted of first-degree assault following a domestic incident where he stabbed his ex-girlfriend.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
During his time behind bars, Brooks wasn't just a number. He was a guy who liked music and actually put in the work to get his GED while incarcerated. He spent years moving through the New York state system, eventually landing at Mohawk Correctional Facility. However, it was his transfer on December 9, 2024, to Marcy Correctional Facility that turned a standard sentence into a death warrant.
What Happened at Marcy?
Basically, Brooks arrived at Marcy and, within hours, he was dead. The details are stomach-turning.
According to court records and District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, Brooks was taken to a medical examination room while still in handcuffs. He wasn't resisting. He was compliant. Yet, a group of correction officers—men who were supposed to be his guardians—brutally attacked him.
They punched him. They kicked him in the groin, chest, and face. One officer even used the heel of a shoe to hammer into his body.
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Wait, it gets worse. While Brooks was unresponsive, officers reportedly lifted him by his shirt and tried to throw him out of a window. He eventually died the next morning, December 10, 2024, at Wynn Hospital. The cause of death was listed as asphyxia due to neck compression and massive internal blunt force trauma.
The Convictions of the Officers (2025-2026)
Because Robert Brooks died in custody under such violent circumstances, the "conviction" story shifted from his own past to the men who killed him. This case blew the doors off the "beat-up squad" culture that had allegedly plagued Marcy for years.
By early 2026, the legal dust finally began to settle. Here is how the convictions shook out for the 10 main officers involved:
- David Kingsley: Convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. He received the heaviest sentence: 25 years to life.
- Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina: Both pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and were handed 22-year sentences.
- Christopher Walrath: Pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and received 15 years.
- Glenn Trombly: A former sergeant who didn't actually strike Brooks but helped cover it up. He pleaded guilty to second-degree gang assault and got four years.
- Michael Fisher: The last to face a jury in January 2026. He stood by for seven minutes while the beating happened. He recently pleaded to a misdemeanor of second-degree reckless endangerment.
The most chilling part of this whole saga? The officers didn't realize their body cameras were recording. They had neglected to "activate" them, but the tech was passively capturing the entire 10-minute assault.
The Other Robert Brooks: The 2013 Mortgage Fraud
If you aren't looking for the New York prison story, you're likely thinking of the "Property Flip" king of North Texas.
In January 2013, a federal jury in San Antonio convicted a different Robert Brooks (then 46) on 11 counts. His crimes were purely financial, but the scale was massive. This Brooks led a mortgage fraud ring that spanned from 2005 to 2008, defrauding banks of more than $20 million.
He was convicted of:
- Conspiracy to commit bank, wire, and mail fraud (1 count)
- Mail fraud (8 counts)
- Aiding the filing of false income tax returns (2 counts)
Basically, he’d buy houses at market value and then "flip" them to straw purchasers at wildly inflated prices. He recruited a whole team—appraisers, loan processors, and title company employees—to grease the wheels.
He didn't just get a slap on the wrist. Judge Fred Biery sentenced him to 135 months (over 11 years) in federal prison and ordered him to pay $8.5 million in restitution.
Which Robert Brooks Are You Looking For?
It’s a tale of two very different convictions.
One Robert Brooks was a musician whose life ended in a 10-minute burst of state-sponsored violence after he had already served seven years for an assault. His death triggered a massive overhaul of the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS), leading to the firing of 13 officers and a nurse.
The other was a white-collar strategist who exploited the mid-2000s housing bubble to line his pockets.
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If you're following the news today in 2026, the New York case is the one with active developments. The "Duty to Intervene" policy is now a cornerstone of officer training because of what happened to Brooks at Marcy.
Actionable Insights:
- Verify the State: If you are researching a Robert Brooks, check if the case is in New York (Civil Rights/Prison Reform) or Texas (Federal Financial Crimes).
- Monitor Legal Precedents: The 2026 conviction of Michael Fisher for "inaction" sets a new bar for how correction officers are held liable for simply standing by during an assault.
- Check Public Records: For the New York case, the Estate of Robert Brooks filed a federal lawsuit (Case 9:25-cv-00068) which contains the unredacted details of the body camera footage.
Staying informed about these cases helps highlight the vast difference between "crime and punishment" and the "protection of civil rights" within the justice system.