12/28/2021- 5:14 p.m.
Ravenell, 61, of Monkton, had hired veteran attorney Josh Treem and investigator Sean Gordon for his legal defense, but the two men became entangled in the case. The jury cleared them of wrongdoing Tuesday, finding Treem and Gordon not guilty of federal obstruction charges.
A federal jury acquitted Ken Ravenell of racketeering, narcotics and obstruction charges Tuesday, but found the Baltimore defense attorney guilty of laundering drug money through a prestigious downtown law firm where he once worked.
The three-week trial in U.S. District Court in Baltimore has been closely watched by defense attorneys and law professors. The charges, particularly against Treem and Gordon, asked jurors to decide how far an attorney may go to defend his or her client.
“The prosecution of Josh Treem was an utter failure of judgment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland,” said Robert Trout, the defense attorney for Treem, after the verdict.
The acquittals incited sharp criticism of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Maryland. The office declined to comment on the verdict.
U.S. Attorney Erek Barron was recused from the matter because he represented someone tied to the case as a defense attorney prior to his appointment.
The office has long maintained a distinguished reputation and successfully prosecuted Baltimore’s biggest public corruption cases in recent years.
“I used to have a lot of respect for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I was one of them, but this [prosecution] was wrong,” said Gerard Martin, a veteran attorney and former federal prosecutor, who congratulated Treem after the verdict.
Jurors deliberated three days before convicting Ravenell of one count of money laundering. Federal prosecutors presented witnesses and evidence to show Ravenell laundered drug money through the law firm of Murphy, Falcon & Murphy. He worked as a partner there, and prosecutors alleged he laundered more than $1 million through the firm.
Ravenell left the courthouse quickly after the verdict. He declined to comment, and remains free to await sentencing on May 14.
Under the Maryland rules, his conviction will suspend his law license; he had continued to handle cases in state court. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, but experts say the sentencing guidelines will be far lower.
The conviction marks a dramatic downfall for Ravenell, who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the top criminal defense attorneys in Baltimore and argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He’s expected to appeal.
“I feel badly for Ken. I’ve known him for a number of years,” Treem said outside the courthouse. “He is a wonderful lawyer at the top of his profession.”
It’s unclear whether Treem could still face discipline from the Attorney Grievance Commission. Attorneys for the commission declined to comment. Meanwhile, Treem said the prosecution’s case was dangerous to criminal defense attorneys everywhere.
