Former USOC Marketing Chief Avoids Jail Time

(ATR) John F. Krimsky, Jr., who raised $2.3 billion for the U.S. Olympic Committee as its marketing chief through the 1990s, avoids prison time despite pleading guilty to two child pornography charges in November.

Krimsky, 70, received a five-year suspended sentence during a hearing Friday in a Waterbury, Conn., court. He also received 10 years probation. Judge Frank Iannotti could have sentenced Krimsky to as long as three years in jail.

Clinton J. Roberts, a litigation consultant working with the defense team, said the decision came as a huge relief for Krimsky, who was arrested Nov. 30, 2007, on charges centering around Internet e-mails. The judge rejected Krimsky's request to join an accelerated rehabilitation program in November.

"It's far better walking out of court with him and seeing him smile for the first time in a while," Roberts told Around the Rings. "We were very pleased that the judge certainly looked at John's case at this point in time and decided that he had been punished enough."

Krimsky declined to comment.

Prosecutor Debbie Mabbett told ATR she was disappointed Krimsky received no jail time. She said Iannotti "had to weigh the seriousness of the offense -- which is very serious -- vs. the accomplishments he's had in his life.

"We may not have gotten the jail time we wanted," Mabbett added, "but he has to register as a sex offender, which is very important, so we can let everybody know so they can protect their children from people like him."

Krimsky pleaded guilty to one charge of promoting a minor in an obscene performance and one charge of attempting to commit illegal possession of child pornography in the second degree. Both are felonies. More than 300 images were found on Krimsky's computer when authorities searched for the period 2003-2005.

Roberts said the judge considered Krimsky's "sterling background and his significant efforts at rehabilitation.and his many, many unbelievable achievements. He said John probably achieved more in his life than anyone in the court had, and there were some fairly prominent defense attorneys there."

Roberts said Iannotti told the court about Krimsky's career in marketing, primarily with Pan American Airways and the USOC.

"He remarked about the incredible effort that he made and the money he raised for the U.S. Olympic Committee, and his extraordinary record helping young athletes," Roberts said.

Dr. Ernesto Mujica, a therapist from New York, testified at the hearing that Krimsky was not a risk to re-offend. Mujica has been counselling Krimsky for three years. Krimsky will continue therapy as a condition of the probation.

As another condition, Krimsky can only use his home computer, which has been installed with software that will prevent him from visiting pornographic sites. He is not allowed to use any other computers, or his probation would be revoked and he would be sent to prison.

Krimsky also may have no contact with minors.

"We got the satisfaction of having him have a criminal record," said Mabbett, a senior assistant state's attorney, "but I understand why the judge did what he did: His representation, the guy's age, all of his accomplishments. The case went back so many years, and that may have had a bearing. Since that time, he's done all sorts of counseling."

Krimsky , who was known as a hard-nosed negotiator, wants to continue working and has a wealth of marketing expertise.

"Hopefully John can move forward," Roberts said. "He's resilient. ... He can't go through this without being humiliated and a stigma is certainly attached to it.

"There are certain conditions and parameters that might prevent him from doing certain things, but I think for the most part, the judge encouraged him. He said being 70 is the new 50, and he thought that John had a lot more to contribute, and he said he was sure he would be able to do that."

Written by Karen Rosen.