Not-guilty plea for RI rep charged as fake lawyer

by Erika Niedowski, sfgate.com
August 14th 2012

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island state lawmaker already facing charges that he pocketed the proceeds from a life insurance policy on a friend's dead daughter was arrested Tuesday on charges relating to practicing law without a license.

State Rep. Leo Medina, a Providence Democrat, was arraigned in Providence District Court on eight counts of unauthorized practice of law. Not-guilty pleas were entered on his behalf, and he was released on $5,000 personal recognizance.

Prosecutors say Medina, 48, promoted himself as an attorney on business cards and through advertising, including the Yellow Pages and the Internet, provided legal advice, and received fees for services performed, or to be performed, by an attorney. State police say he received $1,250 from two individuals in separate cases.

Medina does not have a law license or a law degree.

Authorities investigated after a complaint was filed with the state Supreme Court's Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee.

State House Speaker Gordon Fox, also a Democrat, urged Medina to end his re-election campaign, saying he deserves his day in court, but that the charges "add up to a very disturbing pattern of conduct."

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse in a white muscle shirt and gray shorts, Medina said he has never misrepresented himself as a lawyer and that the allegations against him are "no more than a political ploy."

He said he has become a political target because he defeated a 12-year incumbent, Democrat Joseph Almeida, in 2010. The two are running again in the Sept. 11 primary.

Medina noted that one of the complaints against him was brought by Luis Estrada, whom Almeida described as a campaign volunteer. But Almeida told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Medina's suggestion of dirty politics was "plain foolish talk."

Almeida said he doesn't intend to make the charges Medina faces a campaign issue.

"Let somebody else talk about that," he said.

Medina said he had accepted payments from clients on behalf of attorneys with whom he worked at his former business, Southside Professional Services. The firm, which Medina said is no longer in business, had advertised for services in areas such as immigration, divorce and other legal matters, but did not employ attorneys.

In July 2011, the Supreme Court referred the complaints against Medina that were brought to the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, including the one by Estrada, to the attorney general's office for possible prosecution. The panel found that Medina's business promoted itself as a legal office.

A separate complaint, also claiming Medina represented himself as an attorney and accepted $45,000 in fees for legal services relating to a manslaughter case, was referred to Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's office last month, spokeswoman Amy Kempe said.

Members of the state police financial crimes unit arrested Medina at his Providence home around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Medina pleaded not guilty in March to embezzlement and other charges in the life insurance case, calling the matter a "big misunderstanding." He is accused of pocketing $28,000 from a life insurance policy that he was helping a friend cash in.

Original Page: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Not-guilty-plea-for-RI-rep-charged-as-fake-lawyer-3786811.php

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