Warning Hire at the risk of your freedom.
Michael G. Freedman from The Freedman Firm in Los Angeles accepted my payment and allowed my civil rights to be violated, which led to my incarceration for 10 months at Standstone FCI.
Throughout my 50 years, I had never faced arrest or conviction.
Freedman changed that. The only time I met him before my trial was when I traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles to engage his services. At that time, he was affiliated with a reputable firm, but after I retained him, I discovered he had launched his own practice.
Once he received my $75,000, he introduced me to his investigator and mentioned that we had much work ahead to prepare for my upcoming trial, which was about four months away. The total fee he requested for my two cases was $250,000, of which I paid $132,500 before the trial. I made multiple trips to Los Angeles to meet with Freedman for trial preparation, but he was consistently unavailable. He never organized any virtual meetings, interviewed witnesses, or conducted any investigations necessary for a solid defense.
The next time Freedman was present was at the courthouse in New York for the hearings. I recently obtained my court files through a FOIA request as I continue to seek the reversal of these unjust convictions. Beyond my personal observations, I now possess evidence indicating that Freedman collaborated with the prosecution to fulfill their objectives. He communicated and coordinated with them more frequently than he did with me prior to the trial, and some of their email exchanges are quite troubling.
This individual betrayed me.
After consulting with several attorneys, I confirmed that my actions were safeguarded under the 1st, 5th, and 6th amendments. One attorney, feeling sympathetic about Freedman's handling of my case, voluntarily drafted both of my 2255 motions. The court files demonstrate that no criminal offense occurred; the EDNY case should have been managed in civil court. He approached me in New York and warned that if I chose to testify, the courts might consider charges against my mother.
He also insisted on receiving the remaining balance of his fees before the trial and cautioned that if I were found guilty, the government would seek the maximum sentence of five years instead of the 20 months that was initially proposed. He further claimed that the judge was biased and would likely rule against me. Consequently, I reluctantly signed the plea agreement, adding "All Without Prejudice" next to my signature to express my dissent regarding the charges and the distress caused by my attorney and the prosecutors. Hiring Freedman comes with significant risk.
I genuinely have no interest in opinions regarding my circumstances.
Ultimately, both I and my family have suffered losses. My aim is to caution anyone thinking about retaining Michael G Freedman as an ethical lawyer who prioritizes the best interests of his clients. Your innocence holds little weight when lawyers like Freedman are negotiating deals. Decisions are made based on personal interests and agendas.
No matter how much you compensate him, Michael G. Freedman has the ability to betray his clients in favor of the prosecution.
Loss:
$132500
