Lawyer resigns from well-known law firm after he is charged with money laundering conspiracy
A Florida lawyer and lobbyist at Becker & Poliakoff was charged on Thursday with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Lawyer Alan Koslow was charged along with Florida woman Susan Mohr, according to the Sun Sentinel, the Daily Business Review (sub. req.) and a press release. Prosecutors say Koslow and Mohr agreed to launder money for two people who turned out to be undercover FBI agents. The charge had no connection to his law firm, the press release said.
Koslow emphasized in a statement that the criminal charge has nothing to do with Becker & Poliakoff and nothing to do with its clients. “I have engaged competent counsel to address and resolve this charge,” he said. “I have resigned from my firm so that I can focus on dealing with this personal matter.”
The government press release alleges the undercover agents told Koslow and later Mohr that they needed to launder money derived from illegal gambling and the sale of illegal narcotics and counterfeit Viagra. Prosecutors allege Koslow accepted the cash and provided checks to the undercover agents for the amount less a 5 percent fee. The checks were drawn on a bank account of Mohr’s business, “Mohr2GoGifts,” according to the press release.
Becker & Poliakoff released this statement to the Sun Sentinel: “Alan has been a friend and colleague for over 20 years, and we are shocked, saddened and disappointed. We have accepted Alan’s resignation. Our thoughts are with his family and all affected. As the U.S. Attorney’s office made clear in its statement today, the charge pertains to Alan personally, and has no connection to the law firm.”
