AUSA And CLE

A subcommittee of the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board approved a public reprimand without terms. 

At all times relevant hereto, Respondent has been an attorney licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At varying times detailed below, including from March 12, 2014 to the present, Respondent’s license to practice was not in good standing due to his failure to pay his bar dues and/or complete his annual MCLE requirements. Respondent’s license to practice law in Virginia is presently not in good standing due to his failure to meet his annual MCLE obligation.

Respondent was licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia in October 1988. He began employment with the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) in 1997 where he remained until his resignation from DOJ on February 19, 2016. During his tenure with DOJ, Respondent was a trial attorney initially assigned to the Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section of the Criminal Division.

The duties of a DOJ trial attorney require an active license to practice law in at least one state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Accordingly, as a condition of employment, all DOJ trial attorneys must have an active license to practice. In addition, all DOJ attorneys must certify annually that their license to practice law in the jurisdiction in which they are licensed is in good standing.

From 1998 through to the present time, Respondent allowed his license to practice law in Virginia to be suspended ten (10) times for failing to pay dues and/or failing to complete required hours of MCLE. During the period of each suspension, Respondent remained employed by DOJ as a trial attorney. Respondent did not inform his supervisors or anyone else at DOJ of these suspensions.

The Agreed disposition lists the dates of suspension.

Respondent’s license to practice law in Virginia has now been suspended for nearly five (5) years.

As to the claim that he had waived into the Bar of Puerto Rico

The VSB contacted officials in Puerto Rico who did not have a record of Respondent having waived into the bar of Puerto Rico.

Respondent explained that his many suspensions were the result of extensive travel and the attendant difficulties that caused with attending CLE courses, and also resulted from health issues he experienced during some of the relevant time period including a hospitalization for ulcerative colitis.

Respondent also stated that during much of his tenure abroad, he was working for the embassies of East Timor and Bangladesh training law enforcement personnel, and was not engaged in the practice of law.

Respondent is taking steps to restore his license to practice and has of this date paid all past due bar dues. He is currently working on completing his MCLE requirements.

Respondent has been licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1988 and has no prior disciplinary record.

(Mike Frisch)