Polish gangster Krzysztof “Fama” U. is tried for masterminding a scheme to intimidate a prosecutor, a judge, and other officials, resulting in a 25‑year sentence.
Background and Prison Gangster
Krzysztof U., known as “Fama,” was born in 1978 in Warsaw and raised in Ochocie. Official records show he never owned a mobile phone or email address, and he never had children. He finished technical high school, but as a teenager he declared he would “finish people, not houses.” At 17 he was imprisoned for an attempted murder that left a victim disabled. He received a 15‑year sentence, used parole breaks, and repeatedly returned to jail. In 2016, inside the Stawiszyn detention unit, he took over the prison, issued his own rules, and was the sole inmate to own a refrigerator and a bike—an unprecedented hegemony that earned him a reputation as a powerful gangster.
Post‑Release Activities and Gołdap Robbery
Fama was released on parole in March 2019 after a court reportedly considered his rehabilitation progress. He then founded a construction company and organized a criminal group. On 2 October 2019 he and four associates travelled to Gołdap with plastic weapons and police‑style armbands, intending to rob a tobacco dealer holding cash at his home. The target was away visiting his mother, so the group was caught during the failed attempt.
Confidants and Internal Credibility
During the investigation, a co‑confidant dubbed Patryk Ł., nicknamed “Szczęka,” provided testimony. Patryk claimed Fama had confessed that he had plotted to burn a club in Warsaw and that Fama acted on orders from rival club owners, confirming a deeper racketeering plot. Other informants, including Adam O. and Tadeusz D., asserted that Fama had been plotting to kill “Szczęka” and the prosecutor, Radosław Cieśliński, as well as to damage Judge Jan Krasnodęb.
Plot to Threaten Officials
Fama allegedly used his influence within the prison to construct a black‑mail network against Cieśliński and Judge Krasnodęb. He allegedly threatened to have “Szczęka” killed and to break the judge’s spine, citing a rumor that the judge would get “burned by pipes.” The plan relied on bribed lawyers, informants, and misinformation to manipulate witnesses and stakeholders.
Trial and Charges
The case was processed in the Siedlce District Court and later heard by Judge Karol Troć. Prosecutor Walerian Janas charged Fama with six countable offenses, including murder orders and threats against public officials. The defense argued that the accusations were fabricated, citing the absence of reliable evidence and the prosecution’s reliance on contradictory testimonies.
Verdict and Aftermath
On 23 September, Judge Troć convicted Fama of all six charges and sentenced him to 25 years in prison, stripping his public rights for ten years. The judge acquitted the solicitor Agnieszka M. of most offenses, sentencing only the attempt to influence witnesses to eight months. The sentence, pending appeal, reflects the seriousness of the attempted intimidation of legal authorities.
