A New Year In Florida
Among the disciplinary actions reported on the web page of the Florida Bar on January 1, 2025
Kenneth Chesebro, P.O. Box 9116, San Juan, PR, interim felony suspension effective 31 days following an October 28 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2009) In August 2023, Chesebro was indicted in Georgia for multiple charges related to election interference. On October 20, 2023, Chesebro pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Chesebro was sentenced to five years probation with conditions. The Bar filed a Notice of Determination or Judgment of Guilt and Chesebro was suspended pending disposition of the case. (Case No. SC24-1528)
Suzanne DeWitt, 600 Brickell Ave., Suite 2500, Miami, suspended for two years effective 30 days following a December 12 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) A court order was entered against DeWitt in a civil lawsuit for breach of fiduciary duties related to manipulating corporate structures and providing false information in real estate transactions, which gave rise to the disciplinary proceeding. (Case No. SC2024-1692)
Jean Gerard Legagneur, Jr., 1575 West Ave., Apt. 6., Miami Beach, permanently disbarred, effective 30 days following a November 26 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2001) On February 16, 2022, Legagneur pleaded guilty to one count of Issuing a False Financial Statement, a misdemeanor, in New York, which requires an intent to defraud. During his plea colloquy, Legagneur admitted, under oath and with the assistance of counsel, that he was guilty as charged, and affirmed he was entering the plea because he was in fact guilty. Legagneur went on to execute three affidavits of judgment of confession acknowledging the misconduct and unequivocally confessing judgment to specific monetary amounts to the victims. (Case No. SC2023-1583)
Roberto Masud, 3390 Mary St., Suite 116, Miami, disbarred with leave to reapply in 10 years, effective immediately following a November 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1989) Masud was emergency suspended on June 16, 2022. Masud served as a third-party escrow agent for a purchase and sale agreement, and $864,000 was wired to his trust account to be held in escrow. Per the escrow agreement, the funds could only be disbursed upon the approval of both parties. Approximately two months later, representatives from both companies sent a joint Notice of Termination of Escrow Agreement to Masud and requested that the funds be returned to the buyer. However, Masud had already disbursed and/or transferred the entire amount of the funds within three days of receipt. None of the recipients were parties to the escrow agreement. (Case No. SC22-0768)
Curtis Dee Mendenhall, P.O. Box 622112, Orlando, suspended for 91 days and required to show proof of rehabilitation, effective 30 days following a November 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1998) Mendenhall was appointed by the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel to represent a woman in a felony case originating in Citrus County. Mendenhall made inappropriate sexual remarks to the client, which resulted in a conflict of interest. Mendenhall had a prior public reprimand for similar misconduct. (Case No. SC24-1125)
Kirk Bradley Reams, 11102 Salt Rd., Lamont, interim felony suspension, effective 30 days following an October 7 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2010) Reams was convicted of one count of grand theft (over $20,000), a second-degree felony, in violation of F.S. 812.014(2)(b)(1). (Case No. SC24-1439)
Gabriel F.V. Warren, 1560 Hickory Ave., Tallahassee, interim felony suspension, effective 30 days following an August 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2010) On June 20, 2024, Warren pled nolo contendre to one count of unlawful use of a two-way wireless communications device, to facilitate or further the commission of any felony. (Case No. SC24-1206)
Sarah Savannah Warren, 1560 Hickory Ave., Tallahassee, interim felony suspension, effective 30 days following an August 19 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2011) On June 20, 2024, Warren pled nolo contendre to one count of unlawful use of a two-way wireless communications device, to facilitate or further the commission of any felony. (Case No. SC24-1208)
The Tallahassee Democrat had a story about the latter two attorneys
The Florida Supreme Court has suspended two Tallahassee attorneys who were accused by a woman who worked in their home of sexually battering her.
The state’s highest court entered suspension orders against Sarah Savannah Warren and Gabriel F.V. Warren last month, court dockets show.
The suspensions, meaning they will be temporarily barred from practicing law, will be effective later this month so they can close out their practices “and protect the interests of existing clients,” the court orders say.
According to previous reporting, the victim – who worked in the Warrens’ home for several years – told police that the couple sexually battered her after they returned from a date March 10, 2023.
The Warrens told the victim that they had been thinking about having sex with her for months and kissed and touched her, according to court records. She repeatedly said she was uncomfortable but the Warrens wouldn’t let her leave.
The victim later told investigators that Gabriel Warren performed a sex act on her at the direction of his wife before she was finally able to collect her things and escape. As part of the plea deal, the Warrens both publicly apologized to the victim, who was in the courtroom, sobbing throughout the proceeding.
The married couple entered pleas to lesser charges, deals that were OK’d by the victim, as part of an agreement with state prosecutors. In June, Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper withheld adjudication, meaning she did not enter a formal finding of guilt, and sentenced both to 48 months of probation and 15 days in jail.
The Florida Bar now is pursuing disciplinary cases against the Warrens, with possible punishments up to and including disbarment if they are found guilty of misconduct.
(Mike Frisch)