Criminal Defense Lawyer Accused of Hoarding $1.3M in Client Payments to Evade Income Tax
A Maryland criminal defense lawyer is facing a federal tax evasion case after allegedly hoarding $1.3 million in cash payments from clients over a six-year period in order to conceal his income.
Federal authorities found $1.5 million in two safes when they raided the home and law office of Stanley Needleman in April, reports the Baltimore Sun.
Now 69, Needleman also faces a structuring charge after allegedly breaking payments down into smaller amounts to try to avoid detection. If convicted, he could get up to 10 years and a $500,000 fine for structuring and five years and $100,000 for tax evasion.
His attorney, Kenneth Ravenell, called Needleman a “great lawyer for a long time [who] helped countless individuals in their own serious matters” and said he expects to say more about the case later.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Cameras Caught Lawyer Stealing Crime Textbook, Police Say; Charge Follows Unrelated Raid”
