Better Late Than Never
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has disbarred an attorney as reciprocal discipline for a like sanction imposed in New York.
On consideration of the certified order from the state of New York disbarring respondent from the practice of law by consent; this court’s February 7, 2023, order in No. 23-BG-12 maintaining respondent’s suspension pending final disposition of this proceeding and directing him to show cause why reciprocal discipline should not be imposed; respondent’s D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14(g) affidavit filed in his original disciplinary proceeding in No. 12-BG-1891 on February 11, 2013; and the statement of Disciplinary Counsel recommending reciprocal discipline and requesting reinstatement be conditioned upon respondent’s successful completion of supervised release and to dismiss No. 12-BG-1891 as moot; and it appearing that respondent has not filed a response or opposed the condition for reinstatement; and it further appearing that respondent was convicted of traveling for the purpose of engaging in sex with a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b).
The crime was described by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
In the summer of 1998, Schneider, founder and president of the Apogee Foundation, traveled to Moscow, Russia where he told two ballet instructors at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography that he was willing to provide “assistance” to students attending the academy. The instructors identified a 12-year old student whose family could no longer afford to pay his board. Schneider convinced the boy’s parents to allow him to live with Schneider in an apartment a few blocks from the school. Between August 22, 2000 and November 22, 2001, Schneider engaged in a sexual relationship with the victim, bringing him to Philadelphia for a summer program in 2001, then returning to Moscow with the victim in August 2001 to continue the sexual relationship. Schneider was arrested March 27, 2010 in Larnaca, Cyprus.
If the Board on Professional Responsibility had found the crime involved moral turpitude per se (as it should have) , this sanction would have been imposed ten years ago. (Mike Frisch)