Disbarred Coral Gables Attorney's Testimony Gets Former Client Acquitted Midtrial
A federal judge granted a rare Rule 29 acquittal in a fraud case against a Miami developer, finding she relied on her attorney's advice.
September 20, 2017 at 01:00 PM
9 minute read
Attorneys for a Miami developer won a rare directed verdict in a criminal fraud case by showing the defendant relied on bad legal advice.
An Orlando federal judge granted a Rule 29 acquittal after the government rested its case, finding prosecutors failed to prove developer Rebecca Gheiler acted in bad faith when she offered condominium buyers incentives not disclosed in closing documents. The practice allegedly cost mortgage lenders more than $8.25 million.
Hundreds of emails between Gheiler and former Coral Gables attorney Angel Garcia-Oliver — who pleaded guilty for his role in the alleged scheme — showed she relied on his assurances that everything was legal, U.S. District Judge Paul Byron ruled.
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