Opinion
06-11-2015
In the Matter of Erik MUELLER, Also Known as Erik W. Mueller, a Suspended Attorney.
Monica A. Duffy, Committee on Professional Standards, Albany (Alison M. Coan of counsel), for Committee on Professional Standards.
Monica A. Duffy, Committee on Professional Standards, Albany (Alison M. Coan of counsel), for Committee on Professional Standards.
Before: McCARTHY, J.P., LYNCH, DEVINE and CLARK, JJ.
Opinion
PER CURIAM.Erik Mueller was admitted to practice by this Court in 2001. In October 2009, he was suspended from the practice of law due to his failure to comply with the attorney registration requirements (see Judiciary Law § 468–a ; Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468–a, 65 A.D.3d 1447, 1469, 885 N.Y.S.2d 441 [2009] ). Mueller currently resides in New Jersey, where he was previously admitted in 2000.
In 2011, Mueller pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349. He was sentenced to, among other things, a five-month period of incarceration. As a result of that conviction, the Committee on Professional Standards now moves pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(a) and (b) for an order striking Mueller's name from the roll of attorneys. Mueller has not replied or otherwise appeared in response to the motion.
An attorney convicted of a federal felony found to be essentially similar to a New York felony is automatically disbarred (see Judiciary Law § 90[4][a], [e] ; Matter of Margiotta, 60 N.Y.2d 147, 150, 468 N.Y.S.2d 857, 456 N.E.2d 798 [1983] ; Matter of Briggs, 115 A.D.3d 1149, 1150, 984 N.Y.S.2d 172 [2014] ). Conversely, an attorney convicted of a federal felony without such a New York analogue is guilty of a “serious crime” and shall be suspended by this Court until a final disciplinary order is entered (Judiciary Law § 90[4][d], [f] ; see Matter of Johnston, 75 N.Y.2d 403, 405, 554 N.Y.S.2d 88, 553 N.E.2d 566 [1990] ).
The Committee contends that conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349 is essentially similar to Penal Law § 190.65(1)(b), scheme to defraud in the first degree, a class E felony. Upon our review, we conclude that the federal felony to which Mueller pleaded (see 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1349 ) is not essentially similar for automatic disbarment purposes pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(a) and (e). An elemental comparison of the two crimes establishes that the federal felony requires proof of additional facts that are not required in order to be convicted for the New York crime of scheme to defraud in the first degree. Moreover, while the First Department has found said crimes to be “essentially similar” for purposes of triggering automatic disbarment, said determinations have not relied on a New York analogue but, rather, were based upon review of the admissions that the respective attorneys made under oath during their federal plea allocutions and in conjunction with the subject federal indictment or information (Matter of Weisman, 124 A.D.3d 52, 53, 996 N.Y.S.2d 42 [2014] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]; accord Matter of Adams, 114 A.D.3d 1, 2–3, 977 N.Y.S.2d 248 [2013] ; Matter of Mercado, 1 A.D.3d 54, 55, 767 N.Y.S.2d 17 [2003] ). Given that the record here does not contain the relevant plea allocution, we need not decide whether to adopt this First Department test as our own.
Consequently, we deny the Committee's motion. We nonetheless conclude that Mueller has been convicted of a serious crime within the meaning of Judiciary Law § 90(4)(d). Accordingly, we suspend Mueller from the practice of law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) until such time as a final disciplinary order is made pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(g), and further direct him to show cause why a final order of suspension, censure or removal from office should not be made (see e.g. Matter of Briggs, 115 A.D.3d 1149, 1151, 984 N.Y.S.2d 172 [2014] ; Matter of Park, 95 A.D.3d 1648, 1649, 945 N.Y.S.2d 453 [2012] ; Matter of Erikson, 53 A.D.3d 772, 773, 861 N.Y.S.2d 476 [2008] ).
ORDERED that the motion of the Committee on Professional Standards is denied; and it is further
ORDERED that Erik Mueller is suspended from the practice of law, effective immediately, until such time as a final disciplinary order is made pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(g) ; and it is further
ORDERED that Erik Mueller is directed to show cause before this Court, within 20 days of the date of this decision, why a final order of suspension, censure or removal from office should not be made pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(g) ; and it is further
ORDERED that, for the period of suspension, Erik Mueller is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form, either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another; and Mueller is hereby forbidden to appear as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission or other public authority, or to give to another an opinion as to the law or its application, or any advice in relation thereto; and it is further
ORDERED that Erik Mueller shall comply with the provisions of this Court's rules regulating the conduct of suspended attorneys (see Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept. [22 NYCRR] § 806.9 ).
McCARTHY, J.P., LYNCH, DEVINE and CLARK, JJ., concur.