Federal Cyberstalking Conviction Of Former K&L Gates Partner Merits Interim Suspension

A cyberstalking conviction involves a “serious crime” and merits interim suspension pending final action, according to a decision of the New York Appellate Division for the First Judicial Department

On October 17, 2022, respondent was convicted, after a jury trial, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, of three counts of cyberstalking in violation of 18 USC § 2261A(2)(B). On February 10, 2023, respondent was sentenced to 24 months incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release.

The Attorney Grievance Committee (AGC) seeks an order determining that the crime of which respondent has been convicted is a “serious crime” under Judiciary Law § 90(4)(d) and the Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters (22 NYCRR) § 1240.12(b)(2); immediately suspending respondent from the practice of law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(b)(2); and directing respondent to show cause before a referee appointed by the Court, within 90 days of his release from prison, why a final order of censure, suspension, or disbarment should not be made under Judiciary Law § 90(4)(g) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2).

The court adopted the AGC position

Accordingly, the AGC’s motion to deem the offense of which respondent has been found guilty to be a “serious crime” within the meaning of Judiciary law § 90(4)(d) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(b)(2) should be granted. Respondent is immediately suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(b)(2). Pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(g) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(i) and (iv), respondent is directed, within 90 days of the date of his release from prison, to show cause before a referee appointed by this Court, why a final order of censure, suspension or disbarment should not be made.

The victims were attorneys at the K&L Gates law firm. 

The offense was described in a press release of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Willie Dennis, a former law firm partner in Manhattan, waged a relentless cyberstalking campaign against his own former colleagues.  During the years-long, merciless harassment, Dennis’s victims were forced to change their ways of living out of fear that Dennis would make good on his threats.  The sentence imposed today ensures that Dennis’s victims will no longer needlessly endure his attacks.”

According to the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and the evidence introduced at trial:

WILLIE DENNIS, a former partner at the Law Firm, engaged in a years-long campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats against his victims, who were partners at the Law Firm.  As part of that campaign, DENNIS sent the victims thousands of harassing, threatening, and intimidating emails and text messages.  Despite having been warned by the Law Firm over and over again that his communications were unwanted, abusive, and harassing, DENNIS continued to send nonstop messages to his former partners.  He sent the messages at all hours of the day and night.  DENNIS targeted the victims and their families, and he threatened their physical safety.  He demeaned the victims, called some of them by racist and antisemitic names, and warned them that they would become “biblical symbols.”  In his threats, he told one victim to “sleep with one eye open.”

*                *                *

In addition to his prison term, DENNIS, 60, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. 

(Mike Frisch)