 According to the "Village Voice", several people who have dealt with him say that he has claimed the power to arrange favorable treatment in prison for individuals such as Leona Helmsley and Eddie Antar.In 2004, he was banned from making any contact with prison service officials.As part of the deal with prosecutors of the charity fund pilfering scandal he agreed not to lobby on "any matter involving a federal inmate or any other person charged or convicted of a federal crime."