J. Michael Farrell, who provided legal assistance to the accused killer of trans woman Diamond Williams, was convicted last week of multiple felonies in an unrelated case.
On Feb. 2, a federal jury in Maryland declared Farrell guilty of 10 felonies involving conspiracy, money laundering, tampering with a witness and tampering with an official proceeding. Jurors acquitted Farrell of two felony charges.
Prosecutors say Farrell crossed the line between representing defendants in a drug ring and participating in the defendants’ unlawful activities.
Farrell, 64, faces up to 200 years in federal prison when sentenced May 5.
At presstime, it was unclear whether Farrell would continue to provide legal assistance to Charles N. Sargent, who allegedly murdered Williams about four years ago.
The state’s Disciplinary Board, which reviews the law licenses of Pennsylvania attorneys, is aware of Farrell’s recent felony convictions. Ultimately, the state Supreme Court must decide whether to suspend or revoke Farrell’s law license.
Farrell also is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, South Carolina, the District of Columbia and multiple federal-court jurisdictions.
Sargent allegedly stabbed Williams to death with a screwdriver and dismembered her corpse with an ax. Then, Sargent allegedly deposited her body parts at a vacant lot in the Strawberry Mansion section.
Sargent claims he acted in self-defense, after Williams became violent during a sexual encounter. However, advocates for Williams dispute that claim.
Sargent intends to serve as his own attorney during his upcoming murder trial, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 27.
Farrell began serving as Sargent’s court-appointed attorney shortly after Sargent was arrested in July 2013.
In December 2015, Common Pleas Judge Lillian H. Ransom gave Sargent permission to act as his own attorney during his murder trial. But Ransom said Farrell would attend the trial as Sargent’s “standby” attorney.
Farrell remains free pending sentencing, but he’s in poor health due to a heart attack he suffered last year. He’s on multiple medications to treat “severe heart issues” and bipolar disorder, according to court records.
Farrell couldn’t be reached for comment for this story. His attorney, Barry Coburn, issued this statement: “While we are very disappointed about the [Feb. 2] verdict, we look forward to the next steps in the legal process.”
According to court records, between 2009-13, Farrell became involved in a Baltimore drug-trafficking ring known as the “Nicka Organization.”
Farrell’s participation came to light after a 2009 raid of a Baltimore home, in which investigators found evidence of about $14 million in marijuana sales, much of it stored in rented warehouses.
Farrell conducted fraudulent transactions and advised witnesses not to fully cooperate with authorities investigating the drug ring. Additionally, Farrell caused four affidavits containing forgeries to be filed with authorities.
Farrell didn’t testify during his 14-day trial, but tape recordings were played to jurors that incriminated him.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet of Delaware sent a letter to a Maryland judge on behalf of Farrell. Sleet said he’s known Farrell since 1980, and shared a law practice with him.
“As a public defender, Mr. Farrell was full of energy, enormously inquisitive and curious about and dedicated to the criminal-justice process,” Sleet wrote. “I know how he interacts with clients and advocates for them in court. He is a person of consummate decency.”
Sleet said he was intervening as a personal friend, not in his official capacity as a federal judge.
Sargent, 47, remains incarcerated at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia.