CONTACT: Gina Balaya (313) 226-9758
Stephen Moore, IRS CI (313) 628-3307
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jeffrey Collins, United States Attorney, Mark Kroczynski, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Michael Braun, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, announced that on April 8, 2003, Robert Beswick, 53, an attorney from Encino, California, pleaded guilty to a February 3, 2003 information charging him with knowingly making false and fraudulent material statements to specials agents of the Internal Revenue Service and Drug Enforcement Administration. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Victoria A. Roberts.
Mr. Collins stated, "Mr. Beswick was interviewed by special agents from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration on three separate occasions between May 7, 1999 through September 10, 1999, relative to an investigation into drug trafficking, money laundering and related offenses. Each time he knowingly provided false and fraudulent material information."
Mr. Collins stated, "During a May 7, 1998, interview with Special Agents, Mr. Beswick was asked to explain a number of telephone calls made from Los Angles, California to John Bryant, Dean Parker, and Dean Parker's attorneys in the Detroit, Michigan area. Mr. Beswick stated that the only reason he would have made any such telephone calls was to discuss the possible purchase of a piece of commercial real estate by on of his legal clients. In actuality, Mr. Beswick had been hired by Tony Holmes to locate Dean Parker or John Bryant, who owed Mr. Holmes a substantial sum of money for a prior shipment of cocaine. Mr. Beswick was trying to arrange a meeting so that the drug debt could be collected."
Mr. Collins stated, "Special agents asked Mr. Beswick during an interview on August 3, 1999 if Mr. Beswick paid for and directed Brian Dubose to travel from Los Angeles, California to Detroit, Michigan in December 1997 to obtain copies of legal documents from the federal courthouse in Detroit, Michigan.
Mr. Beswick stated that he had asked Mr. Bubose to photograph a commercial building in the Detroit area on behalf of one of his legal clients, but denied asking Mr. Dubose to retrieve any records from the federal
courthouse, nor did he pay for the trip. However, Mr. Beswick did in fact pay over $1,000 for a first-class airline ticket for Mr. Dubose to travel to Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Dubose did obtain copies of pleadings in the
criminal case United States v. Claude Mask and James Haywood, and faxed them to Mr. Beswick, as instructed. This criminal case involved the seizure of some 48 kilograms of cocaine supplied by Tony Holmes to Dean Parker and John Bryant."
Mr. Collins stated, "During a September 10, 1999, interview with special agents, Mr. Beswick was asked why he obtained pleadings in the criminal case United States v. Claude Mask and James Haywood. Mr. Beswick stated that an unidentified male had called his office to ask if he would consider representing Claude Mask in a federal criminal case pending in Detroit, Michigan. When in fact, Mr. Beswick had been hired by Tony Holmes to investigate and to verify the arrest of Mr. Mask and the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine supplied by Holmes to Messrs. Parker and Bryant. Mr. Mask and his partner, James Haywood, had attempted to transport the cocaine from Los Angeles, California to Detroit, Michigan."
Mr. Kroczynski stated, "It is a shame that an attorney, an officer of the court, would take the path which allowed him to get involved in this matter. What is worse, is that he then lied to the agents in a material matter. He will now face the consequences of his actions."
Mr. Collins stated, "Knowingly providing false and fraudulent material information involving a matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of he United States is in violation of Title 18, United States Code,
Section 1001. Conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The sentence will be imposed under the United States Sentencing Guidelines according to the nature of the offense and the criminal background, if any, of the defendant."
Mr. Beswick will be sentenced on October 2, 2003, at 2:30 pm, in front of United States District Judge Victoria A. Roberts.
Mr. Collins commended the agents of Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation for their work in this investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Bruce C. Judge.