Public defender appointed for indicted pharma rep who had millions seized in fraud case
Oct. 27—A judge Thursday appointed a public defender to represent
In 2020, a magistrate judge issued criminal and civil seizure warrants for Luehrsen's financial accounts and waterfront condos in
Federal prosecutors allege Luehrsen generated more than
After jurors acquitted the former Clarence resident of eight money laundering charges and two evidence tampering charges in March, U.S. District Judge
Vilardo allowed the three lawyers who represented Luehrsen in the first trial to withdraw from the case. Vilardo said it would be unfair to make them continue if Luehrsen can't continue to pay them.
So the judge appointed a public defender to represent Luehrsen in his bid to get back the seized assets and for the rest of the case if needed. Vilardo has previously said he wanted to see Luehrsen's tax returns, statement of net worth and how he his paying his living expenses before scheduling a hearing on whether to returned the seized assets.
Luehrsen did not object to the public defender representing him.
"I would prefer to have my funds released so I can hire an attorney of my choice," Luehrsen said during Thursday's status conference.
Luehrsen paid a
"If funds are released, you can use those funds to hire a lawyer," Vilardo told him Thursday.
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