Crime, White-Collar Crime

Lawyer Ghosted After Pleading Guilty To Fraud

This lawyer ditched his ankle monitor and has yet to be found.

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Eric ConnIt’s not like this was totally unexpected. Indeed, when Kentucky lawyer Eric Conn was arrested in April 2016 on charges he stole from the Social Security Administration and bribed a judge, prosecutors argued he was a flight risk. As the Lexington Herald-Leader notes:

Employees in Conn’s office had heard him say he would flee to Cuba or Ecuador to avoid criminal charges, and Conn had wired substantial sums of money out of the country at times, an FBI agent testified at one hearing.

“If he were to leave, to cross a border, he could go to wherever he has stashed some money and flee,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford said at the time.

But Magistrate Judge Robert E. Wier allowed Conn to post a $1.25 million bond, and live under house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor.

In March, Conn pleaded guilty to the $550 million Social Security fraud scheme, and was allowed to remain out on bond until sentencing. Now, he’s gone, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Adversaries of Conn are now happy to play a round of I told you so:

Lexington attorney Mark Wohlander said he predicted early in the case against Conn that “the day would come when they would find his ankle bracelet lying on the ground at the Pikeville airport” after he slipped the monitoring device and fled.

Wohlander represents the two former Social Security employees who tried for years to raise red flags about Conn and accomplice David B. Daugherty, a judge with the agency.

Wohlander said he called the two women after learning of Conn’s disappearance and advised them to ask police to make more frequent patrols past their houses.

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It seems few people are shocked by the most recent turn of events:

Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf, who represents former clients of Conn suing him for fraud, said he has long thought Conn would flee. He sought to tie up Conn’s assets as part of that case as a result, Pillersdorf said.

Conn is an experienced international traveler, still has admirers who could help him and may have some cash stashed somewhere, Pillersdorf said.

“You won’t find anybody in Floyd County who’s surprised by this,” he said.

Conn’s attorney, Scott White, is hoping he’ll turn himself in:

“Certainly, we are praying that Eric does the right thing and turns himself in because it’s not too late,” White said. “We’re also praying for law enforcement who have to do this search.”

That’s a nice sentiment, but perhaps one that isn’t supported by facts in evidence.

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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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