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Williamsburg lawyer pleads guilty to extortion
Posted On 16 Mar 2011
Photo by MARK WHITE
Williamsburg lawyer Ron Reynolds, left, is seen leaving the federal courthouse in Lexington Wednesday afternoon with his attorney, Jerry Cox, who is seen on the right. Reynolds pleaded guilty to a federal extortion conspiracy charge, and implicated former Sheriff Lawrence Hodge in the scheme.
LEXINGTON – A Williamsburg attorney and former long-time friend of ex-Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday afternoon to being involved in a conspiracy with Hodge to extort money from his clients.
Ronnie Wayne Reynolds, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right in U.S. District Court in Lexington.
Reynolds told Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove that Hodge would refer cases to him, and that he knew – based on the circumstances of the case – that the defendant would get little if any jail time.
Reynolds also told the judge that after the case was resolved, he would then give Hodge monetary compensation for referring the cases to him.
Reynolds has agreed to forfeit $199,500 to the government, which represents the net profit he made on the deal. His plea agreement calls for him to make reasonable efforts to pay the money prior to his sentencing.
Reynolds admitted that on at least three occasions between 2004 and 2007, he and the former sheriff conspired to extort money from individuals charged with felony drug offenses in state court in exchange for favorable consideration in their cases, according to a court document.
Specifically, Reynolds admitted to making cash payments to the former sheriff in excess of $57,000 so that the sheriff would refer individuals charged with crimes to Reynolds for representation.
Each of these individuals expected and understood that they would face reduced charges and/or they wouldn’t face any period of incarceration if they hired Reynolds based on the sheriff’s recommendation, according to Reynolds plea deal.
In addition, Reynolds, acting on behalf of Hodge, encouraged these same clients to make forfeiture payments and/or cash donations to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office in exchange for a favorable resolution to their cases, according to a court document.
In each instance, the felony drug charges were reduced to misdemeanors with the sheriff’s consent and approval. The sheriff’s office received over $55,000 from this scheme, according to court documents.
Reynolds’ charge was filed as part of the Hobbs Act. One essential element that must be present for that charge is that a public official is involved.
Van Tatenhove agreed to release Reynolds on bond pending his formal sentencing, which is scheduled for June 29 in U.S. District Court in London.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Dotson didn’t ask for Reynolds to be held in custody pending sentencing.
"I don’t believe Mr. Reynolds to be a danger to the community or a flight risk," Dotson told Van Tatenhove.
"If there is any danger, it is to him," Reynolds’ attorney, Jerry C. Cox, told the judge.
Reynolds and Cox declined to comment as they were leaving the federal courthouse Wednesday.
Reynolds entered the guilty plea via an information. An information is a formal document charging someone with a crime before they have been indicted by a grand jury.
A person can only be charged through an information, if they agree to do so. In most cases, this is done when someone reaches a plea deal with prosecutors before a case is presented to the grand jury.
Law practice in question
Reynolds has been practicing law at his own practice since 1984.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Van Tatenhove noted that it is likely there will be a significant number of professional consequences for Reynolds actions.
Reynolds’ telephone number to his law office has been disconnected, or is out of service.
Special Judge Roderick Messer told one defendant, who said they were going to hire Reynolds during a Whitley Circuit Court hearing Monday morning, that "It’s my understanding he is not going to be able to practice law for a period of time."
Maximum penalty
Reynolds could receive a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Federal probation officers will issue a report that will provide a recommended sentencing range for Reynolds in the case.
Van Tatenhove noted that he is not bound by the recommendation, and he could issue a lesser or stiffer sentence based on his discretion, which could be greater than what Reynolds expects to receive.
Van Tatenhove added that Reynolds wouldn’t be able to withdraw his plea under those circumstances, and that there is no parole in the federal court system.
This means that Reynolds will serve a majority of the sentence that he receives.
Reynolds gave up his right to appeal his conviction as part of his plea agreement, but not his right to appeal the sentence.
Van Tatenhove said that he could also impose a $250,000 fine, or an amount twice as great as the gross financial gain Reynolds had in the case, which would be about $400,000.
Reynolds also faces three years of supervised release once he is released from prison.
ATF investigation
The case involving Reynolds was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Internal Revenue Service, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Special ATF Agent Todd Tremaine was in court for Reynolds hearing Wednesday afternoon.
Tremaine is also the lead investigating officer into a reported December 2009 break-in at the sheriff’s department where several firearms and drugs were apparently taken.
Tremaine filed an affidavit last week in regards to a federal drug investigation in Whitley County, and Hodge is mentioned prominently several times in it.
The affidavit accused Hodge of trading drugs for a sheriff’s department shotgun less than a month before he left office on Jan. 2, and of offering to sell drugs to a confidential informant after he left office.
The affidavit also accuses Hodge of hanging out at a residence where drugs were allegedly sold while he was still sheriff and shortly after he left office, and of buying drugs off the black market.
So far no federal charges have been filed against Hodge.
Other charges
In November, a special called Whitley County Grand Jury concluded a five-month investigation indicting Hodge on 18 counts of abuse of public trust and three counts of tampering with physical evidence.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble estimated that about $350,000 is either unaccounted for or were checks written to Hodge from the sheriff’s department’s drug and alcohol account for "drug buy money."
The indictment further alleged that Hodge converted seized guns for his own use, including three that he sold to a local attorney, and two that he gave to his chief deputy.
Hodge is scheduled to appear in Whitley Circuit Court on March 22 at 1:30 p.m. for a pretrial conference in the case before Special Judge Roderick Messer.
Hodge was soundly defeated in the 2010 May Primary Election, and left office on Jan. 2.
The FBI is currently conducting an investigation into the missing money, and other issues found by the state auditor during audits of Hodge’s books.
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I believe Williamsburg has been run by the same few families for many years and their children and grandchildren have continued the reign. These people don’t get their hands dirty, they have people for that, but they are sitting in the big churches on Sunday. They have their hands in everything from bingo to the drug trade which has crippled both youths and adults in the community. Just maybe ,maybe the FBI will uncover these crimes and give the community back to the people who love it and deserve it. The public officials that will do anything for money and a little bit of power deserve the public humiliation they will receive and the power their fellow inmates will have over them.
Need to put a sign over the bridge that reads..WELCOME TO GANSTERVILLE WERE EVERYONE IN TOWN ARE MEMBERS.
Ron Reynolds knew what he was doing, he deserves what he gets. The corruption in Whitley County goes back to the old days when the first Sheriff was in office. Since the 70’s two other Whitley Sheriff’s have been convicted of corruption; Dick Vermillion & Larry Patrick. Others skated by the nap of their neck and H.D. Moses died before the court could prosecute. Which brings up Ancil Carter, seems to be an honest person, but his house burned down under suspicious circumstances. His hot water heater exploded?
Great reporting! People need to know about all the corruption going on in this county. Thank you for keeping us informed.
Greed for years, this man < example of how corrupt the whitley co law has been. The state police before the new sheriff was the only law we had ,that wasnt worse than the dope dealers,at least you know the dope dealers are snakes The truth will come out and God is still in charge