This "Asset Search News Roundup" is about two New York criminal defense attorneys who among other things, were accused of violating privacy law by possessing illegal eavesdropping equipment.  On August 20, 2009, attorneys Robert Simels and Arienne Irving were found guilty of importing and possessing illegal eavesdropping equipment in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§2512 (1) (a) & (b). 

Ms. Irving was eventually acquitted of all criminal charges on December 4, 2009 and a U.S. Attorney’s press release mentions that Mr. Simels was sentenced to 168 months of prison.  Mr. Simels’ jury verdict sheet additionally reveals that he was convicted of several witness tampering charges along with the bribery charge outlined by his July 10, 2009 superseding indictment.  He had apparently committed these crimes in connection with his representation of Mr. Shaheed Khan in a federal criminal case. 

An August 20, 2009 Drug Enforcement Administration press release called Mr. Khan a drug kingpin and claimed that Mr. Simels and Ms. Irving had imported the illegal eavesdropping equipment from Guyana, where Mr. Khan had used it.  My next article will again mention U.S. privacy law.  This upcoming article is called "Violating Federal Law In An Asset Search".  It describes how a private detective may have conspired to illegally access customer account information maintained at a U.S. bank.

(Edited December 12, 2009)

Copyright 2009 Fred L. Abrams