Wax On Wax Off

The Louisiana Supreme Court has accepted the consent disbarment of a convicted attorney. 

Respondent was convicted of conspiracy to introduce and cause to be introduced misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, money-laundering conspiracy, and money laundering. Following the institution of formal charges, respondent and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel submitted a joint petition for consent discipline, in which respondent acknowledges that his conduct constitutes a violation of Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

KATC.com News reported

Daniel James Stanford, once considered to be one of Acadiana’s top criminal defense attorneys, has been officially disbarred.

Stanford was convicted in 2014 on drug and money-laundering charges in federal court, and was sentenced in 2015 to serve 10 years in federal prison. The conviction was connected to a federal investigation of Curious Goods, which was alleged to have sold more than $5 million of synthetic marijuana.

Another attorney accused in the investigation, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound just before his trial started.

According to a release from the state Supreme Court, Stanford’s disbarment comes in response to a joint motion from Stanford and the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel. In that motion, Stanford acknowledges that his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys.

His disbarment is retroactive to September 2014, when he was suspended following his conviction.

Shreveport Times had the story of the conviction

Daniel James Stanford, 57, of Lafayette, must spend 121 months behind bars and was also ordered to serve six years of supervised release. He and his seven co-conspirators were indicted in September 2012 as part of an investigation into Curious Goods LLC, a Lafayette-based business that marketed smoking products throughout Acadiana.

Curious Goods sold an item known as “Mr. Miyagi,” which was mislabeled as potpurri but was infused with synthetic cannabinoids, according to a release from the United States Attorney’s office. “Mr. Miyagi” was apparently sold with the sole intent of producing a “high.”

The synthetic cannabinoids infused into “Mr. Miyagi” are considered Schedule I controlled dangerous substances under federal law. From March 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011, Curious Goods stores made approximately $5 million from the sale of “Mr. Miyagi.”

Stanford, a criminal defense attorney, represented himself at his trial in August 2014. During opening statements, Stanford told the jury he was “absolutely not guilty of any of this.” But evidence presented at the trial showed Stanford was actively involved with the Curious Goods enterprise, that he was well aware the company sold “Mr. Miyagi,” and that “Mr. Miyagi” was infused with synthetic cannabinoids.

Stanford was found guilty by a federal jury on Aug. 29, 2014.

“Mr. Miyagi” was apparently labelled “not for human consumption.” But prosecutors argued the product was packaged to be intentionally misleading. The description “Mr. Miyagi” stated it was to be used to refresh scents in drawers, closets and cars. According to the release, evidence at trial demonstrated that Stanford knew the product was being consumed by humans, that it was harmful and not a scent refresher, and that the product was marketed to young people.

“The intentional mislabeling and misbranding, spearheaded by Stanford, were part of a legal strategy and subterfuge to feign compliance with the law, to avoid law enforcement detection, and to avoid civil and criminal liability,” the release stated.

Stanford’s co-conspirators included Alexander Derrick Reece, 42 of Gainesville, Fla.; Drew T. Green, 40 of Roswell, Ga.; Thomas William Malone Jr., 48 of Roswell, Ga.; Boyd Anthony Barrow, 46 of Canton, Ga.; Joshua Espinoza, 51 of Marietta, Ga.; Richard Joseph Buswell, 46 of Lafayette, La.; Daniel Paul Francis, 44 of Dawsonville, Ga.; and Curious Goods LLC.

Green was sentenced to 117 months in prison, Malone to 117 months, Barrow to 70 months, Espinoza to 61 months, Francis to 42 months and Buswell to 103 months.

(Mike Frisch)