Fla. Lawyer Fights Charges He Hid Bank Losses

A government lawyer argued yesterday that a former partner at Greenberg Traurig covered up crimes at a Miami bank that was eventually shut down for fraud.

The Office of Comptroller of the Currency is seeking a $250,000 fine and a cease-and-desist order against Carlos Loumiet to prevent him from giving legal advice to federally financed banks.

Lee Straus, who represents the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, said in closing arguments at Loumiet’s civil regulatory trial that the lawyer found no illegal trades by the bank and "exonerated the officers," the Daily Business Review reports. Loumiet’s erroneous conclusions led to $127 million in losses by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Straus said.

But Loumiet’s lawyer, Alan Greer, said the OCC had failed to show any improper conduct by Loumiet, and the agency "should be ashamed of its conduct in this entire case."

Loumiet now works at Hunton & Williams.