Growing Pains And Grave Concerns

I concur in the approval of Respondent’s resignation pending disciplinary proceedings pursuant to Rule 8.2 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (RGDP), 5 O.S.2021, ch. 1, app. 1-A. I write separately to express my surprise at the Bar Association’s decision not to file a Rule 6 disciplinary proceeding against Respondent so that it could seek an emergency interim suspension of Respondent’s license to practice law pursuant to Rule 6.2A of the RGDP, 5 O.S.2021, ch. 1, app. 1-A. Instead, it appears from the date of the grievance (i.e., Grievance No. DC-22-82, meaning it was filed in 2022) that the Bar Association sat on this matter for two years, essentially giving Respondent the opportunity to continue practicing law for those two years despite his indictment by a multicounty grand jury for crimes demonstrating dishonesty and unfitness to practice law (i.e., six felony counts of offering false or forged instruments for recordation in violation of 21 O.S.2021, § 463). It also appears Respondent took advantage of that opportunity to practice law on several occasions since his indictment in June of 2022. If our goals truly are “to protect the interests of the public and to preserve the integrity of the courts and the legal profession,” State ex rel. OBA v. Abdoveis, 2024 OK 55, ¶ 7, 551 P.3d 320, 326, then the Bar Association should have asked this Court to suspend Respondent’s license two years ago.

I also have grave concerns regarding the status of any disciplinary action against Respondent’s co-defendant, Eric Brandon Brown, who is also an attorney licensed to practice law in Oklahoma. At the same time Respondent was indicted, Mr. Brown was indicted for the very same crimes. At this point, it appears his criminal case has already concluded and been expunged. That shouldn’t necessarily mean that he is immune from professional discipline pursuant to Rule 6 of the RGDP. Yet he has continued to practice law with impunity ever since his indictment in June of 2022. The Bar Association should have filed a Rule 6 disciplinary proceeding against Mr. Brown and sought his interim suspension pursuant to Rule 6.2A of the RGDP; and if circumstances developed to suggest that Mr. Brown should not be subject to ultimate discipline, the Bar Association could have so informed this Court. As it stands, we are left to wonder what, if anything, has transpired.

Newson6.com Tulsa reported on the criminal charges

Oklahoma‘s attorney general announced criminal charges against two Tulsa-based attorneys Wednesday.

The AG’s office accused them of running an illegal medical marijuana scheme that involved hundreds of marijuana grow operations.

Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics director Donnie Anderson said the charges were a result of a 14-month investigation and multi-county grand jury indictments.

Logan Jones and Eric Brown of the Jones Brown law firm in Tulsa are at the center of the investigation. The OBN was tipped off that the two were illegally obtaining state licenses for out-of-state medical marijuana business owners.

“Directed medical marijuana businesses to sign consulting agreements with Jones Brown’s employees who would act as ghost owners of the medical marijuana operations,” state attorney general John O’Connor said.

The attorneys charged $3,000 per year for the “ghost owner” to act as an Oklahoma resident. According to state law, an operation has to be 75 percent owned by a state resident. The false information was filed with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and the OBN.

“People are getting these licenses,” Anderson said. “On face value, they look legitimate.

But state authorities said red flags went up when Jones and Brown had hundreds of licenses in their name. During the investigation, OBN agents shut down three illegal operations linked back to the law firm.

“They’re national and international organizations coming into Oklahoma and setting up shop to exploit our laws,” Anderson said.   

Anderson said the implications of the illegal scheme will be far reaching.

“It doesn’t matter what part of this organization you fall under,” Anderson said. “If you participate, if you aid or abet anyone in this operation to further this criminal organization whether laundering money, sex trafficking, human trafficking, labor trafficking — you will be held accountable.”

The two attorneys each face eight charges. OBN officials said they have hundreds more cases agents are investigating.