Indicted Lawyer to Get Top Honor from Miami Bar Group
A prominent South Florida criminal defense lawyer federally indicted in a controversial case concerning opinion letters he wrote approving attorney fees paid by a convicted Colombian drug kingpin to another lawyer is to receive a top honor tomorrow night from a local bar group.
Ben Kuehne will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Miami chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, reports the National Law Journal. Six federal judges, two appellate judges, 37 circuit judges and 19 county court judges are expected to be among more than 400 attendees at an awards banquet.
As discussed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, Kuehne is a prominent and respected defense lawyer whose federal prosecution on money laundering and wire fraud charges has elicited considerable criticism. Colleagues say Kuehne acted in good faith in concluding that $5 million paid to Roy Black by Fabio Ochoa Vasquez was clean money rather than illegal drug profits, and contend that Kuehne’s indictment represents a threat to the entire criminal defense bar.
Rick Freedman, the Miami chapter’s incoming president, says it had decided to give Kuehne the Daniel S. Pearson-Harry W. Prebish Founder’s Award prior to his indictment earlier this year.
Kuehne has pleaded not guilty in the ongoing case.
Additional coverage:
Wall Street Journal Law Blog: “Florida Bar Group to Honor Indicted Miami Lawyer Ben Kuehne”
ABAJournal.com: “DOJ Considers Dropping Charges Against Defense Lawyer”
ABAJournal.com: “Defense Cries Foul in Miami Attorney’s Money-Laundering Legal Fees Case”
ABAJournal.com: “Respected Miami Lawyer Indicted for Opinions on Money Laundering”
