Title: The Florida Bar v. Hecker
Citation: 475 So. 2d 1240
Docket Number: 65563
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: September 19, 1985

475 So. 2d 1240 (1985)
THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant,
v.
Arnold HECKER, Respondent.
No. 65563.

Supreme Court of Florida.
September 19, 1985.
Rehearing Denied October 28, 1985.
*1241 John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director and John T. Berry, Staff Counsel, Tallahassee, and Jacquelyn Plasner Needelman, Bar Counsel, Fort Lauderdale, for complainant.
Bernard Berman of Bernard Berman, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
This attorney discipline proceeding is before us on the complaint of The Florida Bar and the report of the referee appointed to conduct hearings on the complaint. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 15, Fla. Const.
Respondent pleaded guilty in early February 1983 to the offense of criminal conspiracy to traffic in one thousand pounds of cannabis. We suspended respondent from the practice of law by an order entered on February 15, 1983. That suspension continues in effect. Respondent was adjudged guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment in April 1983. Upon complaint of The Florida Bar, we appointed a referee and referred the complaint for hearing. Based on the pleadings and evidence, the referee found as follows:
The referee recommends that respondent be found guilty of violating Florida Bar Code of Professional Responsibility, Disciplinary Rule 1-102(A)(3) (engaging in illegal conduct involving moral turpitude), and of Florida Bar Integration Rule, article XI, Rule 11.02(3)(a) (committing an act contrary to justice or good morals), and Rule 11.02(3)(b) (misconduct constituting a felony). We approve the referee's recommendations of guilt.
The referee recommends as a disciplinary measure that respondent's suspension from the practice of law remain in effect for three years from March 1983, and thereafter until his civil rights have been restored and until he is reinstated under the rules of reinstatement. The Bar challenges the referee's report on two grounds. First, that the referee erred in finding in mitigation that respondent voluntarily offered substantial assistance to law enforcement officers which implicated and assisted in locating respondent's co-conspirators. It is well established that a referee's finding of fact is presumed correct and will be upheld unless clearly erroneous or lacking in evidentiary support. The Florida Bar v. Baron, 392 So. 2d 1318 (Fla. 1981); The Florida Bar v. McCain, 361 So. 2d 700 (Fla. 1978). The Bar points out that both the prosecutor and police officer investigating respondent's crime deny that they received any substantial assistance from respondent. They averred that the only assistance received was the name of respondent's *1243 co-conspirator and his purported telephone number, both of which proved to be of no value. This view of respondent's limited assistance is consistent with respondent's own averments that he was duped into trying to locate a drug source as part of a legitimate business deal, knew nothing of any other illegal activities, and had minimal knowledge of what transpired. It may be, as respondent claims, that he told the authorities everything he knew about illegal activities, but the record does not support the finding that respondent provided substantial assistance to law enforcement.
The Bar also argues that the recommended suspension is inadequate given the gravity of respondent's misconduct. In the Bar's view respondent should be disbarred. We agree. Respondent's conduct in attempting to act as a drug procurer is wholly inconsistent with his professional obligations as a member of the Bar. We appreciate that disbarment is the severest sanction available to us and should not be imposed where less severe punishment would accomplish the desired purpose. The Florida Bar v. Moore, 194 So. 2d 264 (Fla. 1966). We appreciate also that respondent has served his prison sentence, suffered other personal misfortunes, and appears to be genuinely remorseful. Nevertheless, respondent deliberately set out to engage in illegal drug activity for pecuniary gain. Illegal drug activities are a major blight on our society  nationally, statewide and locally. Necessarily, members of the Bar are brought into contact with the illegal activity because of their professional obligations to offer legal assistance to clients accused of wrongdoing. Members of the Bar should be on notice that participation in such activities beyond professional obligations will be dealt with severely.
The conduct of respondent warrants disbarment. The legal profession cannot tolerate such conduct. Respondent Arnold Hecker is disbarred from the practice of law, effective immediately. Costs in the amount of $1,685.82 are assessed against him, for which sum let execution issue.
It is so ordered.
BOYD, C.J., and ADKINS, OVERTON, EHRLICH and SHAW, JJ., concur.
McDONALD, J., concurs with guilt, but dissents from the punishment.