Attorney Misconduct, Legal Ethics

Defense Attorney Arrested For Allegedly Using Threat of Deportation To Stop Rape Victim From Testifying

This attorney allegedly used deportation like the sword of Damocles.

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Christos Vasiliades

Christos Vasiliades

This allegedly unethical lawyer has unintentionally made the best argument for sanctuary cities.

Let’s review the facts. Christos Vasiliades, a Baltimore defense attorney, along with an associate, Edgar Ivan Rodriguez, acting as a Spanish interpreter, have been indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and witness intimidation. Vasiliades represents Mario Aguilar-Delosantos, who stands accused of rape. Vasiliades, in vigorous defense of his client, allegedly tried to… persuade the victim and her husband not to testify in a meeting to discuss the case, using the implied threat of deportation as well as a carrot of a $3,000 payment. As reported by the Baltimore Sun:

At that meeting, the victim’s husband said Vasiliades and Rodriguez warned of the potential risk for the couple if they testified in court. They “explained that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would likely be present in the courtroom for their client … and cited new federal laws and policies and maintained there is a high risk that” they would be deported if they testified in court, according to the indictment.

Vasiliades said his client was “very sorry and could offer compensation if they did not come to court and testify against him.”

“Vasiliades and Rodriguez indicated that the monetary compensation would help ensure that [they] would not get deported,” the indictment says.

Fortunately, the victim did not take the bait, and instead contacted law enforcement. They asked Vasiliades for a second meeting, only this time the husband was wearing a wire. (The best part is the attorney made the meeting participants leave their phones outside for fear of being recording without checking for a wire.) According to NBC News, he continued to use deportation like the sword of Damocles:

“My guy’s going to be like, ‘I’m here, but she is too!'” the lawyer said, according to the indictment. “They’re going to ask, ‘You have your documents?’ Then everybody’s f—–.”

In addition to the money promised if they didn’t testify, Vasiliades also allegedly said they could get vengeance on the street:

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Vasiliades said that “back home” in Greece, the matter would have been handled with street justice. “I think you should find him and kick his ass, personally,” the attorney allegedly told the husband.

Certainly Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been accused of using questionable techniques as the Trump administration has put emphasis on immigration enforcement. ICE agents have been showing up in courthouses to arrest undocumented immigrants, and judges have complained that these techniques will directly lead to witnesses and victims not showing up to testify, making everyone less safe. The behavior Vasiliades is accused of preys on the fears many in immigrant communities have in an effort to get his client off.

Baltimore attorney arrested for allegedly offering rape victim $3K to not testify, saying Trump will deport her [Baltimore Sun]
Lawyer Allegedly Told Rape Victim ‘Trump Laws’ Would Get Her Deported [NBC News]

headshotKathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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