Crooked Ronald Castorina: Staten Island Divorce Court’s Judge from Hell
Disabled 9/11 cop and countless fathers railroaded as Judge Ron Castorina plays politics from the bench
NOTE: This piece first appeared on TheFamilyCourtCircus.com.
By Rick LaRivière and Frankie Pressman
Ronald Castorina Jr. rules Staten Island’s Supreme Court Matrimonial Part like a petulant child in a black robe. His courtroom antics, insiders say, reflect a man who cares more about rewarding political allies than delivering justice.
“He plays favorites and throws tantrums like a three-year-old,” said one father who appeared before Castorina. “You walk in, and you know if you’re screwed.”
Crooked Ronald Castorina: A Tyrant on the Bench
Ronald Castorina Jr. built his career as a divorce lawyer entrenched in Staten Island’s political swamp. He became a New York State Assemblyman and then the local GOP leader.
Backed by crooked local political power brokers on both sides of the aisle, Castorina climbed the ladder through lies and deceit — and now uses his robe like a weapon.
Once elected, Castorina turned the Staten Island Matrimonial Part into his personal fiefdom. Litigants describe a courtroom ruled by cronyism, contempt, and complete disregard for the law.
“If you’re not connected, you’re cooked,” one father said. “His bench is death row for fathers.”
The father landed in Castorina’s crosshairs because his estranged wife’s uncle — Serafino Maiorano — moved in Castorina’s political circles.
“He had it out for me from the start,” the father said. “My ex’s family was connected. It was over before I opened my mouth.”
Multiple litigants tell the same story — Castorina holds secret meetings with lawyers in chambers.
“Outcomes are rigged before court even starts,” one lawyer said. “You know who’s winning by who gets called back first.”
One father’s attorney went into Castorina’s chambers aggressive — and came out beaten.
“He wouldn’t look at me after that,” the father said. “It was like Castorina broke him.”
Court insiders say Castorina’s real power comes from using contempt threats and bogus rulings to punish fathers while protecting his “preferred vendors” like crooked Staten Island lawyer John Marangos, who made his bones as the “bag-man” for late NYS Court of Appeals Judge Vito Titone.
“Marangos does whatever he wants because Castorina has his back,” one source said. “They all wet their beaks.”
“Castorina has no business on the bench,” another litigant said. “He’s a political hatchet man in a robe — nothing more. And he doesn’t know the law. Frankly, a mob boss could do better.”
Crooked Ronald Castorina: How the Tubby Terror Screwed a Disabled 9/11 Cop
One of Castorina’s most disgusting cases involved retired NYPD Detective and 9/11 responder Guy Simonetti.
Simonetti, disabled and struggling with 9/11-related health issues, landed in Castorina’s courtroom — where he found no mercy. Instead, Castorina enabled shyster attorney John Marangos to railroad Simonetti into financial ruin.
angos, known for his unethical tactics, weaponized Castorina’s court against the retired cop. He wrongfully seized Simonetti’s Mass Mutual IRA and over-levied his NYPD pension. Both actions violated the court’s Judgment of Divorce. Castorina did nothing to stop it.
“Every time I tried to fight back, they changed the rules,” Simonetti said in a sworn court affidavit. “I was railroaded.”
Simonetti fought pro se — alone and disabled — while Marangos, with Castorina’s blessing, pillaged his life savings. The judgment awarded Simonetti his Florida home, car, and Rolex. Marangos refused to turn them over and still demanded more.
“He robs me blind, then demands attorney fees,” Simonetti said. “It’s a scam.”
Adding insult to injury, Castorina threatened Simonetti with contempt — knowing he was broke, sick, and had been denied access to his own assets.
“They tried to drive me into the ground,” Simonetti said. “Marangos should be disbarred. Castorina should be impeached.”
The case was recently moved to Judge Paul Marrone — offering Simonetti his first hope for fairness.
“I might finally get a fair shake,” Simonetti said. “Because with Castorina, I didn’t stand a chance. I just hope this isn’t the cleanup crew.”
Simonetti’s case is just one example. In Castorina’s courtroom, his cronies feast while fathers, cops, and veterans are left with nothing.
Crooked Ronald Castorina: Part of a Rotten System that Needs Cleaning
Ronald Castorina’s courtroom is a playground for corruption. Fathers, first responders, and honest litigants enter and leave broke, broken, and beaten.
“He doesn’t care about the law or fairness,” one insider said. “If you’re not connected, you’re meat. He has a history of screwing his friends. He has no qualms railroading any a litigant he’ll never see again.”
Court insiders confirm that Castorina protects his network of “preferred vendors” — lawyers like John Marangos who extract massive fees while ignoring the law. Marangos’s theft of Simonetti’s pension and IRA is just the latest example.
“He’s untouchable,” another father said. “Castorina lets him run wild.”
Multiple complaints have been filed. Still, Castorina remains — backed by Staten Island’s political machine and police unions. Photos show him proudly posing with NYPD brass, the same cops he uses to enforce corrupt orders.
“He thinks he owns the 122nd Precinct,” one litigant said. “He treats them like they’re his personal goon squad. And the worst part is, he screws the cops that end up in front of him in the matrimoniual part. It doesn’t add up.”
Court records detail Castorina’s obsession with punishing those who challenge his power. One father lost everything after Castorina refused to hear evidence clearing him of drug use.
Others describe similar horror stories — secret meetings, bogus contempt rulings, and utter disregard for the law.
“You know it’s over when he’s on the bench and goes off the record. It’s not justice,” one attorney whispered. “It’s a slaughterhouse.”
Guy Simonetti’s fight continues, now under Judge Marrone. But the damage Castorina did will linger.
“I gave everything to this city,” Simonetti said. “I ran into burning buildings on 9/11. I’m disabled and sick. Now this judge treats me like garbage.”
Calls are growing for Castorina’s removal.
“He’s corrupt, he’s cruel, and he has no business in a black robe,” one father said.
But he’s not untouchable.
“Ron hasn’t been to many Friday night ‘wine and cheese’ dinners. He’s not in the political uni-party’s ‘inner sanctum,’ which means he’s expendable,” said a Staten Island political insider.
Until then, Castorina’s courtroom remains a hellhole — a place where only the connected survive.
Unfortunately, I am one of the victims in this corrupt court and can attest to this story.
My life has been turned upside down due to the unfair actions of this court. I can only hope by getting my story out that it will prevent someone else from becoming a victim. The court refused to accept a medical reason why I could not appear for trial and put me in default. This action allowed the plaintiffs attorney to take full advantage of me. They pre-determined my case and entertained unproven facts to determine the unfair outcome of my divorce settlement.
I always presumed providing evidence or testimony is needed to support a claim or statement.
Is this called justice?
Please anyone reading this help put a stop to this unethical behavior.
Same problem in Essex County NJ. So called family courts are just a dog and pony show. I was just a bystander but I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. The corruption was so obvious! The Family courts in this country need to be abolished.