Appellate Court Deals Setback to Abbell in Representation of Criminal Client

On November 7, 2001, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a major and complete setback to Michael Abbell and William Moran, counsel in criminal cases for defendants associated with Miguel Rodriguez-Orejuela, for many years one of the leaders of the Cali Cartel, known as a cocaine trafficking organization. Defendants Abbell and Moran had appealed their conviction for conspiracy to launder money and the district court?s denial of their motions for new trial. The government had filed cross-appealed of the district court?s judgement of acquittal on the government?s charges of RICO conspiracy and the sentencing court?s application of the sentencing guidelines. The appellate court granted for the prosecution and against the defendants on almost every ground of the appeal. It affirmed the district court?s denial of judgement for both defendants on the money laundering conspiracy, reversed the district court?s judgment of acquittal for both defendants on the RICO conspiracy changes, affirmed the denial of defendant?s requests for a new trial, and remanded the case to the district court for re-sentencing in light of its opnion.