Lawyer guilty in client money-laundering case; his own words at trial helped convict him, juror says
After more than a week of trial and over a day of deliberation, a Connecticut lawyer was found guilty Thursday by a federal jury in a client money-laundering case.
As the verdict was announced, Ralph Crozier, 62, slumped his shoulders, shook his head slightly and put his hands down on the table in front of him, reports the Waterbury Republican-American.
He was freed on $200,000 bond pending his December sentencing. The judge ordered him not to take any new clients in the meantime and to wind up his practice by then, reports the Valley Independent Sentinel.
The jury foreman told the Independent that Crozier’s own testimony at trial helped convict him on one of the two counts.
The attorney admitted on the stand that he thought his now-former client, Bruce Yazdzik, might have been “dabbling” in drug sales rather than simply selling used cars, and that persuaded the jury Crozier was guilty of conspiracy to launder money, said foreman Dan Delisle. “There were times when he was his own worst enemy,” Delisle said of Crozier.
On the other count, attempted money laundering, the jury relied on the evidence from a wire worn by Yazdzik’s mother during a meeting with Crozier that was set up by the U.S. Justice Department’s Drug Enforcement Administration. When the lawyer took $11,000 from her, after telling her she wouldn’t be involved in “hiding things from the feds,” the crime was established, Delisle told the newspaper.
Crozier said he was surprised and disappointed to be found guilty and plans to appeal. Nonetheless he said his attorney, Michael Hillis, did an “incredible job” with what Crozier described as a very difficult case.
Crozier said he didn’t regret testifying. Not wanting to lie to the jury, he told the truth in his “dabbling” comment, he explained to the Independent.
“Like I said from day one, I had nothing to hide,” Crozier stated. “There are innocent people who are convicted.”
The Shelton Herald also has a story.
Related article:
ABAJournal.com: “Lawyer helped launder drug profits, ex-client testifies”
