Michigan - Oakland County lawyer pleads guilty to phony background checks
 

Oakland County lawyer pleads guilty to phony background checks
mlive.com
May 26, 2010
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in..._pleads_g.html

An Oakland County man accused of filing phony reports while doing background checks for the federal government has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.

In court documents, Russell Vail admits he submitted pay vouchers for work that was not actually performed. In late 2008 and early 2009, he worked as a contractor doing background checks on applicants at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Vail, a 69-year-old lawyer, pleaded guilty to theft Tuesday in federal court in Flint. He faces as many as six months in custody but probation is a possibility.

In a similar case, Kerry Gerdes of Royal Oak was recently sentenced to two months in prison. She worked at the CIA and had submitted interviews with people who didn't exist or had died.

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Several times Russell Vail was before the Attorney Discipline Board:

http://www.adbmich.org/CES5/default....=false&q=22799

VAIL, Russell O.-Notice of Reprimand-Effective June 26, 1987
Issued: 7/2/1987
Show Details - [Includes expandable summary and concepts]
Concepts: Respondent ; panel ; judgment ; Notice dLis Pendens ; Attorney Discipline ; Professional Responsiblity ; el ient ; unsigned Satisfaction ; civil action ; evidence presented ; Grand River
Type: Notice
City: Brighton
County: Livingston


MEMBERS ... Vail, P 22799, 7600 E. Brighton, MI 48116 by the Attorney Discipline Board affirming an ... Based upon the evidence presented, the Hearing Panel found that Respondent filed a ... The Panel further found that Respondent improperly mailed unsigned Satisfaction of ... Judgment documents to his el ient without adequately explaining that no...
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http://www.adbmich.org/coveo/notices...7-02-86n-9.pdf - 1 page
2. PDF
VAIL, Russell O.--Effective January 10, 1989
Issued: 1/10/1989
Show Details - [Includes expandable summary and concepts]
Concepts: Formal Complaints ; Respondent ; clients ; Professional Responsibility ; financial assistance ; services rendered ; attorney fees ; fee agreement ; panel determined ; meritorious defense
Type: Notice
City:
County:


Russell O. Vail, P-22799, Brighton, Michigan, by the Attorney ... Discipline Board affirming a Hearing Panel Order of Suspension. ... The Respondent failed to timely answer the Formal Complaints and failed to file an ... Respondent's defaults were entered, and the panel determined that the defaults ... Respondent entered into a written fee...
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http://www.adbmich.org/coveo/notices...-10-88n-52.pdf - 1 page
3. PDF
VAIL, Russell O.-Notice of Automatic Reinstatement-Effective March 22, 1989
Issued: 4/20/1989
Show Details - [Includes expandable summary and concepts]
Concepts: suspension ; respondent ; Supreme Court ; Hearing Panel ; Discipline Board ; Area Cjoe ; JOhn ; Compliance
Type: Notice
City: Walled Lake
County: Oakland


A. GiEEN ... Russell 0. ... Vail, P22799, Walled Lake, Michigan. ... . Respondent was suspension for a period of sixty (60) days by the ... Attorney Discipline Board affirming a Hearing Panel Order of Suspension, effective ... In accordance with MCR 9.123(A), the suspension was terminated with the respondent's ... Compliance 4 with the clerk of...
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http://www.adbmich.org/coveo/notices...-20-88n-52.pdf - 1 page
4. PDF
VAIL, Russell O.--Effective February 01, 1996
Issued: 2/1/1996
Show Details - [Includes expandable summary and concepts]
Concepts: courts ; justice ; respondent ; administration ; professional misconduct ; lawyer ; parties stipulated ; legal profession ; fraudulent ; disclosure ; connection ; defendants
Type: Notice
City:
County:


Russell O. Vail, P-22799, Walled Lake, Michigan, by Attorney ... 1) Reprimand; ... Respondent was counsel for the defendants in a civil matter in the 53rd District ... In connection with that matter, he pled no contest to violating MCR 9.104(1) [conduct ... induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another]; and ... The parties...