An Affair To Reprimand
The Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board web page reports
On September 20, 2016, the Virginia State Bar Third District Subcommittee issued a public reprimand to Cameron Heaps Ippolito for violating a Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct that governs special responsibilities of a prosecutor. This was an agreed disposition of misconduct charges.
WTOC.com 11 had a story that may be related
The fallout continues from an illicit affair between an ATF agent and an assistant U.S. Attorney who’ve both teamed up for more than 200 gun and drug cases.
Not only is the affair facing continuous scrutiny, but it’s now the subject of an investigation by Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General.
The affair between assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Ippolito and ATF Special Agent Lou Valoze went on in secret for five years.
Two Brunswick men who Ippolito and Valoze worked together to put behind bars on gun and drug charges have been given new trials. A third person is set to get his sentence reduced, while the fourth has filed a motion for a new trial.
The defendant, Eduardo Cruz-Camacho, claims ATF agents lured and entrapped him into a fake Savannah storefront. The ATF was using a secret informant, who Cruz-Camacho claims harassed and threatened him until he brought an illegal gun to the fake store.
The Department of Justice admits that Ippolito and Valoze conspired to keep the informant in the country, falsifying a Visa application even though he’d stolen from the ATF.
“The Department takes these allegations seriously and is taking active and appropriate steps with regard to the employees involved,” said the ATF.
The ATF declined to comment further only to cite the department’s ongoing investigation into the matter.
Neither the ATF nor U.S. Attorney’s office in Savannah will say whether Ippolito and Valoze are still employed.
Law360 had this story.
ABA Journal also reported on the fallout.
Jacksonville.com noted a sentence reduction ordered in a case involving the agent and the AUSA and new trials granted in two other mtters . (Mike Frisch)