The Cocaine In The Denali

A two-year suspension was imposed by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a result of a criminal conviction and misconduct in connection with the representation of a client in a personal injury matter.

The attorney’s crimes were described by the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina

According to information contained in court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Anderson represented Lonnie Maddox on federal drug charges in South Carolina in connection with a large-scale cocaine conspiracy. Court records indicate that from February 21 to March 15, 2013, and on five different occasions, Anderson lied to federal agents concerning his knowledge of the whereabouts of two of Maddox’s vehicles. Maddox had purchased the vehicles with the illegal proceeds of his drug dealings. According to court records, Anderson knew where Maddox’s Yukon Denali sport utility vehicle was located, but repeatedly denied this fact when questioned by DEA and HSI agents. Court records also show that Anderson lied to law enforcement about his participation in moving the Denali, which law enforcement ultimately retrieved from Anderson’s law partner’s residence. According to today’s sentencing hearing, when law enforcement agents recovered the Denali, they found one kilo of cocaine hidden in a concealed compartment inside the vehicle.

In addition to the Denali, Anderson also initially lied to federal agents about possessing another one of Maddox’s vehicles, a classic Chevrolet Chevelle, court records indicate. And despite Anderson later admitting to law enforcement that he had in fact possessed the Chevelle, Anderson lied about the location from where he had obtained the vehicle.

 The suspension was imposed nunc pro tunc to the date of an interim suspension. (Mike Frisch)