Federal subpoena recipients roping in lawyers

Karl Etters | Tallahassee Democrat

Tallahassee business owners issued federal subpoenas related to the city and local Community Redevelopment Agency are lawyering up.

While few attorneys contacted by the Tallahassee Democrat Friday confirmed they had been retained, sources said at least six law firms using multiple lawyers familiar with federal investigations have been secured by people named in the FBI's demand for records.

The FBI and the U.S. Attorney issued subpoenas to the city and the CRA on June 13 seeking documents related to at least two dozen local companies and their owners. The list is a who's who of Tallahassee business leaders, developers and political movers and shakers. Federal officials have called for what is likely to be a massive amount of information to be turned over by July 11.

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Tallahassee criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Tim Jansen was the only one of several contacted who would confirm he had been retained as counsel in connection with the investigation.

Stephen Dobson, a go-to attorney when politicians get in trouble and a former federal prosecutor, declined to comment on whether he had been retained. Another partner in his firm and former Second Judicial Circuit state attorney, Richard Smith, also declined to comment. Defense attorney Steven Andrews also declined to comment on whether he has been retained.

It’s not unusual for attorneys to shy away from revealing if they have been retained during a criminal investigation, especially one undertaken by the FBI, said former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Ken Sukhia.

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Confirming clients or representation could put the secret grand jury proceedings and those called to appear at risk.

“Most lawyers realize that it’s an investigation,” said Sukhia, who said he has not been retained in the matter. “Moreover, it’s a federal grand jury investigation meaning it’s intended to be done in a way that advances justice and at the same time protects the innocent.”

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.