Case Title: Disciplinary Counsel v. Timonere

Citation: 1996-Ohio-109

Docket Number: 19942646

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 1996-02-28T00:00:00Z

Document:
Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Timonere. 
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[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Timonere (1996), _____ Ohio St.3d 
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_____.] 
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Attorneys at law -- Misconduct -- Permanent disbarment -- 
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Conviction  in Florida for cocaine trafficking, conspiracy to 
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traffic in cocaine, and violating Florida’s Racketeering 
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Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. 
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(No. 94-2646--Submitted November 8, 1995--Decided February 28, 
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1996.) 
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ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances 
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and Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 92-67. 
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Relator, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, charged respondent, James 
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Marion Timonere, last known address in Oldsmar, Florida, Attorney 
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Registration No. 00033149, with violations of DR 1-102(A)(3) (illegal 
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conduct involving moral turpitude) and 1-102(A)(6) (conduct that adversely 
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reflects on fitness to practice law).  In his answer, respondent admitted the 
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facts underlying the charged misconduct--that he had been convicted in 
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Florida on three counts of cocaine trafficking, one count of conspiracy to 
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traffick in cocaine, and one count of violating Florida’s Racketeering 
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Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (“RICO”).1  A panel of the Board 
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of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Supreme Court 
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(“board”) heard the matter on August 11, 1994, upon completion of 
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respondent’s appeals from his convictions.2 
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The case against respondent in his criminal trial evidently established 
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that he was responsible for managing business aspects of a conspiracy to 
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smuggle cocaine into Florida from Mexico.  He established a corporation 
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that subsequently purchased a boat and airplane used to transport cocaine, 
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he managed the corporation’s accounts, he acted as a liaison between co-
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conspirators, he obtained provisions for smuggling expeditions, and he 
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delivered cash to finance at least one of these trips.  Respondent continues 
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to maintain his innocence of these crimes, insisting that he acted out of a 
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trusting friendship with the one of the main figures in the conspiracy and in 
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furtherance of a legitimate representative capacity. 
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The panel found that respondent violated DR 1-102(A)(3) and (6) 
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based on his convictions.  In recommending a sanction for this misconduct, 
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the panel considered many favorable character letters offered by 
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respondent’s family, friends, and professional acquaintances to encourage a 
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lenient sentence by the trial court.  However, due to the severity of 
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respondent’s crimes, the panel recommended the sanction suggested by 
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relator--permanent disbarment. 
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The board adopted the panel’s report, including its findings of fact, 
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conclusions of law, and recommended sanction. 
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Geoffrey Stern, Disciplinary Counsel, and Harald F. Craig III, 
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Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, for relator. 
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James M. Timonere, pro se. 
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Per Curiam.  Upon review of the record, we concur that respondent 
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violated DR 1-102(A)(3) and (6).  We also agree that respondent’s 
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egregious misconduct deserves the full measure of our disciplinary 
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authority. Respondent is therefore ordered permanently disbarred from the 
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practice of law in Ohio.  Costs taxed to respondent. 
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Judgment accordingly. 
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MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, WRIGHT, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER 
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and COOK, JJ., concur. 
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1  Pursuant to former Gov.Bar R. V(9)(a)(iii), now Gov.Bar R. V(5)(A)(3), 
respondent was suspended indefinitely from the practice of law on May 13, 
1992. 
 
2  Respondent is apparently continuing to appeal issues related to the 
sentences imposed for his crimes and is seeking a writ of habeas corpus in 
federal court.