Legal News

Prosecutors to Consider Dropping Charges Against Miami Lawyer

By Dan Slater

Ben Kuehne, the highly-respected Miami lawyer who was indicted last month, received some reputation-repairing news yesterday. Daily Business Review is reporting that, in response to defense motions filed earlier this week, the DOJ has switched lead prosecutors and will consider dismissing charges against Kuehne, who stands accused of laundering drug profits while vetting a $5.3 million legal fee paid by Columbian drug kingpin Fabio Ochoa Vasquez to his attorney, Roy Black.

“There have been discussions at the Department of Justice concerning whether there should be a voluntary dismissal of these counts,” Washington prosecutors responded in a court filing. “In that event, the current defense motions would become moot.” AUSA Robert Feitel has replaced AUSA John Sellers, but no explanation was offered for the change.

Jon May, a defense attorney in Florida who represented deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, told Daily Business Review that he can’t remember a case where the government has changed prosecutors post-indictment and announced a review to determine if charges should be dropped. “This to me is an extraordinary development, which indicates someone has serious questions about the case either factually or legally,” said May, who will be involved in coordinating a legal defense fund for Kuehne.

Kuehne’s legal team is led by Miami attorney Jane Moscowitz of Moscowitz & Moscowitz and Washington attorney John Nields of Howrey. If the charges are not dropped, the tentative trial date is January 20, 2009.

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on March 28, 2008 (boomark / email).