Attorney Smuggled Cuban Cigars Sent to Prison, Disbarred

[strife]

Geez, talk about a woman scorned!! I wonder how she feels now considering her alimony payments must be getting cut big time.

Former attorney and Skokie resident Richard Steven Connors was found guilty in federal court for conspiring to smuggle Cuban cigars, goods into the United States as well as violating the Trading with the Enemy Act, according to the latest issue of Illinois Lawyer Quarterly. Connors was also disbarred as a result of his actions, the publication stated. According to the New York Law Journal, Connors smuggled "truckloads of Cuban cigars into the country during the 1990s."

The Skokie resident was also fined $60,000 and sentenced to 37-months in prison. The journal stated that Connors made 31 trips to Cuba, but that his activities were halted when his ex-wife alerted U.S. Customs.

Link to article

A more in depth story prior to his conviction.

 

[bballbaby]

I like the notes on cigars made by the court at the bottom of the "more in depth story..."

Seems like the court took some really good notes on those cigars.

 

[mthhurley]

Those details and notes almost made the story seem fake. Truly bizarre for that to be in the court record, especially as commentary from the Seventh Circuit itself!

 

[strife]

After further digging I think he got what he deserved!

United States Customs officials stopped Connors on April 7, 1996, as he attempted to smuggle 1150 Cuban cigars into the United States from Canada. The officials confiscated the cigars and Connors's passport. Undeterred, Connors continued to travel to Cuba over the next three years on numerous occasions to smuggle cigars into the United States and sell them. In March 1997, local police found Cuban cigars in Connors's home, located at 5443 Suffield Terrace in Skokie, Illinois. The following day, March 15, 1997, Skokie police turned over to U.S. Customs officials the cigars that they found at Connors's home. Connors's escapades continued through 1999, when in late October U.S. Customs officials seized 850 Cuban cigars from Connors's home. A jury convicted Connors of smuggling Cuban cigars into the United States, conspiring to smuggle cigars into the United States, making a false statement on a passport application, and violating the Trading With The Enemy Act, 50 App. U.S.C. §§ 5(b)(1), 16.

 

[strife]

Here's the full court report. Now the question that begs to be asked is why is this news now? This case is old and the story printed on 12/7/12.

 

[Knickerbocker]

it's news now because of the disbarment.

 

[Bear]

dumb bitch, LMAO! bye-bye alimony HA-Ha

 

[alloy]

Truckloads? How do you get truckloads past customs?

 

[CigarGavin]

Truckloads? How do you get truckloads past customs?

carefully?

 

[alloy]

Don't they have like cuban cigar sniffing dogs or something?

 

[Treinenwj]

I betcha he sold 'em on Wades.

 

[Evan]

Don't they have like cuban cigar sniffing dogs or something?

Yes but the dogs always get into arguments over which is better CC or NC.

 

[pbibby]

Don't they have like cuban cigar sniffing dogs or something?

Yes but the dogs always get into arguments over which is better CC or NC.

Maybe the dogs were in on it........bitches

 

[Jfire]

1150/25= one hell of a small truck.......

 

[thejavaman]

1150/25= one hell of a small truck.......

Yeah...that didn't make much sense to me either.

 

[bdc30]

Customs officials stopped Connors on April 7, 1996, as he attempted to smuggle 1150 Cuban cigars into the United States from Canada

The journal stated that Connors made 31 trips to Cuba

Sounds like this was on a larger scale than a one time thing with 45 boxes of cigars. Although even with "just" that, an attorney has to know what he's risking - especially if he's doing it as a resale type of thing.

 

[bugbear]

 

[hotrod]

So will we ever see there trade laws lifted?

 

[Treinenwj]

1150/25= one hell of a small truck.......

Actually "truck" was an error on the part of the writer of the linked and quoted article. The older story refers to "trunkloads".

 

[Herfin' Harg]

Wait, wait... So what you're saying is the rule DO APPLY to Attorneys?! Fuck me.