McGuireWoods Howard Vick implicates himself in his defense filing of Complaint in Federal Court

HOWARD VICK DEFENSE FILING GOES HORRIBLY WRONG AS HE IMPLICATES HIMSELF IN FEDERAL COURT FILING

In a breach of conflict of interest ethics violations, McGuireWoods attorneys are representing disgraced former McGuireWoods attorney Howard C. Vick jr in federal court. The complaint was filed by Nickolas G. Spanos, who Howard Vick had accused of being the "hub of a 600-kilo cocaine organization that operated in the Richmond area for over ten years".

McGuireWoods attorneys and Howard Vick wrongly stated in their defense, that it was not a Commonwealth Attorney's responsibility to have a international fugitive extradited or deported and be prosecuted for the crimes he is accused of, instead "the fugitive should travel back to the USA and turn himself in."

The former Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Howard Vick had a Federal UFAP warrant issued for the fugitive Spanos just days after the distribution of cocaine indictments were charged but strangely enough, Howard Vick refused to take further action, despite 12 more indictments for cocaine distribution were charged to Spanos.

Under Federal law, it is the Commonwealth Attorney's (prosecutor) responsibility to make a diligent effort to pursue an international fugitive by either:

• The issuance of a federal UFAP Warrant
• Contacting the U.S. State department to have the fugitive's passport cancelled.
• Contacting INTERPOL to have a Red Notice arrest warrant issued.
• Contacting U.S. Embassy FBI officials in the country where the fugitive is believed to be located.
• Filing an Affidavit for Extradition with the DOJ Office of International Affairs.

The USA has extradition treaties with over 100 countries in order to swiftly have a fugitive returned within sixty days of their arrest.

Howard Vick refused to take action to bring the fugitive back to Virginia for prosecution, ironically he had the 13 grand jury indictments sealed and had the capias and federal UFAP dismissed.

The complaint filed against Howard Vick states that he took several bribes not to have the fugitive extradited or deported and even harbored the fugitive by having the federal UFAP warrant dismissed so that the fugitive could have his U.S. passport renewed. This action took the fugitive off national and international criminal databases.

Howard Vick had the fugitive Spanos's case for 19 months, which he took no legal action, upon resigning from the Henrico Commonwealth Attorney's office, he was offered a partnership position with McGuireWoods law firm, coincidently McGuireWoods represents the fugitive Spanos's family which had estate holdings worth millions of dollars with McGuireWoods.

The federal complaint against Howard Vick states numerous criminal violations which include:

1. Code § 18.2-439. Acceptance of bribe by officer or candidate.
2. Va. Code § 18.2-447. When person guilty of bribery
3. Va Code § 18.2-460. Obstructing justice
4. 18 U.S. Code § 1071. Concealing person from arrest.
5. 18 U.S. Code § 1001 - Statements or entries generally
6. TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242 DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW

Virginia Professional Code of Conduct Rules violated by Howard Vick include:

1. Rule 1.11 Special Conflict of Interests for former and current government employees.
2. Rule 3.3 Candor towards a Tribunal
3. Rule 3.8 Additional Responsibilities of a Prosecutor
4. Rule 4.1 Truthfulness Towards Others
5. Rule 8.3 Reporting Misconduct
6. Rule 8.4 Misconduct

McGuireWoods stated in their defense filing that Howard Vick and other DOJ officials (former and current) were being harrassed by numerous complaints for corruption being filed in Virginia Courts.