Luskin got $500,000 in gold from client who launderd drug$ via gold dealrs

[StefanX]

It's illegal for a lawyer to "knowingly" accept stolen assets as attorney fees from a client - but once Luskin did just that - and then tried to use the word "knowingly" to cover it up, just like he's trying to do now with Rove.

In the late 90s, Luskin took half a million dollars in GOLD BARS from a mobbed-up client who was appealing a conviction for LAUNDERING DRUG MONEY through PRECIOUS METALS DEALERS.

Who knew? Luskin claims he didn't.

Luskin's defense was, he didn't "knowingly" accept stolen goods. Just like Rove didn't "knowingly" out a covert agent!

I'd say Luskin's fair game - wouldn't you? Heaven knows, if a Dem had a lawyer as sleazy as Luskin, this is all we'd be hearing about on the talking-heads shows.

Talking Points Memo

One case that jumps out at you is {Luskin's} representation of Stephen A. Saccoccia.

Saccoccia and his wife Donna were eventually convicted of laundering more than a hundred million dollars for various Colombian drug kingpins. Stephen is currently serving a 660 year sentence. Their racket was laundering drug money through companies which traded in precious metals.

Saccoccia was convicted in 1993. And Luskin took up his case on appeal.

Eventually the Feds got the idea that the money Saccoccia had paid Luskin and his other attorneys for their services was itself part of the $137 million in drug money he was ordered to forfeit. Now, on the face of it this seems a bit unfair since under our system everyone is entitled to good representation and how was Luskin to know it was tainted money{?}

Well, the prosecutors thought he should have gotten some inkling when Saccoccia started paying Luskin's attorney's fees in gold bars.

Yep, you heard that right. Luskin got paid more than $500,000 of his attorney's fees in gold bars from his client who was trying to appeal his conviction on charges that he laundered drug money through precious metals dealers. Who woulda thought that was drug money?

Luskin insisted that he "never have, and never would, knowingly accept a fee that was the proceeds of illegal activities."

But when federal prosecutors finally got a chance to depose Luskin and Saccoccia's other lawyers, they found that their lawyers' fees had come in forms "such as gold bars, cash that was dropped off at hotels and trunks of cars, and money transfers from Swiss bank accounts."

There's that word "knowingly" again. One of Luskin's favorites. When he's trying to lie and loophole his way out of a statute.

Google luskin "gold bars" "stolen assets"

[Moochy]

1. Laundering money is a BFEE specialty

Hmm, Laundering drug money into a lawyers pockets for payment..

Laundering Afghan warlord's heroin money into the florida Dept. of Transportation for use in tight political races, or strategic investment.

Laundering colombian drug money.... Gary Webb's spirit watches on.

Plenty of Dirty Laundry to be sure. We can only hope that others don't forget, and that justice may be served.

Most Criminal, Foul and Evil Family in Presidential History.

[DemonFighterLives]

2. Fair Game!

That stinks to high heaven.
The crook just happened to have gold bars laying around. Hmm.

[wallwriter]

3. So is Rove paying him in oil futures? Halliburton stock?

illicit acts from Jeff Gannon?

[redqueen]

4. Unbelievable...