Clevert to Brownell: "No"
Judge quickly slaps down request for rehab

Jan. 29, 2007 -- U.S. District Judge Charles Clevert quickly rejected Bielinski Brothers CEO Robert Brownell's request to enroll in a 500-hour drug and alcohol drug rehab program the could earn him a shorter sentence.

"There is no factual basis in the presentence report for the court to refer you to the Residential Drug Abuse Program," Clevert wrote in a two-paragraph letter to Brownell.

Brownell is in the early stages of a 20-year prison sentence for masterminding a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. He wrote to Clevert on Jan. 8 asking for permission to enroll in the program.

"While I realize with great clarity, following 10 months of sobriety, that I am responsible for my own actions I have also come to realize that my ability to make healthy decisions over the last six years of my life was severely hampered by my abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs," he wrote.

Clevert, who sentenced Brownell in April, didn't buy it and the judge told him that in a Jan. 15 letter.

According to Brownell's pre-sentence report, Clevert said, there was no addiction problem.

"Prior to your incarceration you consumed one drink before dinner, or wine with dinner, no more than twice a week. It adds that you rarely consumed alcohol because it may precipitate anxiety and panic attacks," Clevert wrote. "Furthermore, you stated that you last used cocaine more than twenty years ago and that you have never felt a need to seek treatment for your use of controlled substances."

Brownell and his cohorts used money they bilked from Bielinski to support political candidates and for other purposes. Their scheme cost the company millions.

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Another one looking for rehab...
Brownell says he's changed, asks for drug treatment

Jan. 16, 2007 -- Robert Brownell, the former CEO of Bielinski Brothers Builders now serving a 20-year prison sentence for masterminding a multi-million dollar fraud scheme, says he has "found my hell" and wants to enroll in a 500-hour residential drug treatment program.

"I am committed to doing everything in my power to not only rehabilitate myself but to keep others from repeating my mistakes and following a similar path of anger and addiction," Brownell wrote in a letter to US District Judge Charles Clevert, who sentenced him last April.

"In the 10 months since my incarceration I've had the daily opportunity to reflect on the hard reality of the consequences of my actions," Brownell wrote. "I know that what I did was wrong. I have no excuses and blame no one else for my current state of affairs. I have hurt my friends, I business associates and those I love and cherish and I have no defense. I am truly sorry."

Brownell and his cohorts used money they bilked from Bielinski to support political candidates and for other purposes. Their scheme cost the company millions.

If Brownell were to successfully complete the drug program, he could shave up to a year from his prison sentence, according to federal law.

"While I realize with great clarity, following 10 months of sobriety, that I am responsible for my own actions I have also come to realize that my ability to make healthy decisions over the last six years of my life was severely hampered by my abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs," he wrote. It is now my responsibility and goal to ensure myself, my children, my family & friends, my former business associates and Your Honor that I have taken, and will take, the actions and steps necessary to properly rehabilitate myself and thus control the monster of addiction that has so greatly impacted my life in the lives of those around me."

Brownell has previously shown a distaste for spending time in prison. Shortly before he was supposed to be sentenced in March, he had his son help him fake a mugging in part to delay his sentencing.

He referred to that incident and his sentencing in his letter to Clevert.

"In the statement I read to the court I said that I love my children very much. When I was finished you posed a simple but direct question. You asked if the flagitious incident involving my son ... was what I call love. At the time even if I had been given the opportunity to respond I did not believe I could have given my state of mind. However, after being able to face the truth of my actions with a clear, clean and sober mind I would very much like to answer the question now. My answer is as follows; "No Your Honor. It was not love. Not by a longshot."