The attorney for a man accused of stealing $11 million in state tax refunds was allowed to withdraw from the case after accepting a high-end Mercedes from the suspect.
Denver attorney Joseph Saint-Veltri filed a motion Sept. 5, saying he was threatened with prosecution for possessing the 2007 Mercedes S550, which authorities believe was bought with the tax money, court records show.
The purchase price of the car was listed at $90,000 when Saint-Veltri requested a title and plates for the car, according to a search warrant.
Judge William Robbins allowed Saint-Veltri and co-counsel Michael Meyrick to withdraw after reading Saint-Veltri’s filing that said they might be witnesses in part of the case.
Hysear Randell, his wife, Trudy, and his girlfriend, Michelle Cawthra, a former Department of Revenue employee, have been indicted on charges of stealing the money over nearly two years, court documents say.
Hysear Randell will now be represented by Denver attorney Renee Cooper and will be arraigned, with Cawthra, on Oct 25.
Trudy Randell waived extradition from Florida and was brought back to Colorado this week. She is scheduled in court Friday.
