Pubdate: Tue, 30 Aug 2005
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Author: Curt Anderson, the Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

LAWYER IN COCAINE CASE RESIGNS OVER SOURCE OF MONEY FOR FEES

MIAMI -- The defense lawyer for alleged cocaine kingpin Gilberto
Rodriguez Orejuela withdrew from the case Monday over concerns that
the wealthy Cali cartel co-founder cannot pay legal fees without
tapping into drug money. A federal judge may now have to appoint a
lawyer for Rodriguez Orejuela at U.S. taxpayer expense.

"If he's eligible for court-appointed counsel, then I will give him
court-appointed counsel," U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno said at
a hearing. "I can't have a person without a lawyer."

Moreno agreed to release Miami lawyer Jose Quinon from representing
Rodriguez Orejuela, who is accused in a federal indictment along with
his younger brother Miguel and others of conspiracy and obstruction of
justice.

Colombia's Cali cartel, once the biggest cocaine-smuggling ring in the
world, allegedly made more than $2 billion in profits by smuggling an
estimated 250 tons of cocaine into the United States over two decades,
prosecutors say.

Quinon said in court papers that he did not have "sufficient comfort"
to remain a part of the case, which could have put him at risk of
prosecution if the legal fees he would have been paid turned out to
come from drug proceeds.

Quinon would not comment after Monday's hearing.

Other South Florida criminal lawyers who represented drug kingpins
have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Miami attorney Sam Burstyn, who once represented a top lieutenant to
former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, is charged in a 16-count
federal indictment with acting as a "house counsel" to drug
organizations and accepting drug money. He has pleaded not guilty and
is awaiting trial.

In 1995, six lawyers were indicted by a Miami grand jury on charges of
helping the Cali cartel -- and the Rodriguez Orejuela brothers -- by
delivering hush money and sometimes threats to jailed cartel associates.

Several of those attorneys were convicted and served jail
time.

The current lawyer for Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, Roy Kahn, said the
defendants were interviewing attorneys to replace Quinon and hoped to
reach an agreement with one of them by next week.

Moreno set a hearing for Sept. 7 to decide the issue permanently and
set a trial date of Jan. 23.

Usually poor defendants get court-appointed lawyers, not someone like
Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela -- a man prosecutors have said has more
money than some entire countries. But Richard Gregorie, the assistant
U.S. attorney prosecuting the case, said the government would not
oppose a court-appointed lawyer if Moreno finds he has no untainted
money to pay his own attorney.

"The government is ready to proceed," Gregorie said.
- ---