A Full Service Attorney Gets Suspended
The Virginia State Disciplinary Board summarily suspended a convicted attorney.
The Roanoke Times reported
A Roanoke attorney admitted in federal court Tuesday to lying to the FBI about a pattern of conduct involving sexual liaisons with clients and illegal possession, use and distribution of controlled substances.
A plea agreement calls for a sentence of up to six months in prison for Scott Alan Webber, 38. Webber will cease his 12-year practice of law, said Bob Rider, his defense attorney.
During an FBI interview in January 2017, Webber falsely denied improper involvement with clients and with drugs, authorities said. Court papers don’t explain what led authorities to contact Webber.
When authorities seized and examined Webber’s phone, they found evidence of “numerous conversations in which Webber arranged the purchase of controlled substances, discussed distributing controlled substances, arranged sexual encounters with clients and discussed exchanging sexual acts for legal services,” according to a case summary filed with the court.
Webber signed to acknowledge that the summary was true. It describes interactions with individuals identified only as clients 1 through 6 and women 1 through 3. According to the summary, Webber charged “Client #1” a reduced fee for legal representation on charges of DUI and petty larceny in 2014 in return for sexual intercourse. He represented “Client #2” on multiple charges from 2012 to 2015 in exchange for “sexual activity.” Speaking to that client on a line “monitored” by law enforcement, Webber referred to “our sex life,” the summary said. When woman 3 told him she had marijuana and Adderall, a stimulant prescribed for an attention disorder, he texted her, saying, “Great. I’ll take everything you can part with,” court papers said.
In the FBI interview, Webber made such statements as, “No, no, I’ve not had sex with clients” and “I’m not a drug user, I’m not a drug dealer,” the summary said.
Webber admitted Tuesday he “knowingly and willfully made material false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations” related to a matter within the jurisdiction of the federal governments’ executive branch, of which the FBI is a part. He was not charged with a drug crime or any other crime.
In court, U.S. District Judge James Jones asked Webber twice to speak louder as Webber replied to questions posed by the judge about his readiness to plead guilty and his personal background. Webber graduated with a law degree from Seton Hall University in 2005 and became a Virginia attorney in 2006. His practice spanned criminal and civil work in state and federal courts, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
“Yes, sir,” Webber replied.
Jones scheduled a sentencing hearing for Oct. 16. Webber was to be released by the court on an unsecured $25,000 bond. He has arranged for other attorneys to represent his existing clients and receive their files, Rider said. The State Bar of Virginia has a policy of suspending the law license of any attorney convicted of a felony upon receiving written notice of the conviction from the court.
(Mike Frisch)