Boca Raton attorney suspended by the Supreme Court of Florida over his guilty plea to a third-degree felony

On Thursday, October 13, 2022, the Supreme Court of the State of Florida ruled on the Uncontested Report of the Referee Accepting Consent Judgment concerning Boca Raton attorney Brian Alfred Mangines for conviction to a third-degree felony.

The case, titled The Florida Bar v. Brian Alfred Mangines, was brought by the Florida Bar. Case number #SC22-1110.

The charges cited Rules Regulating the Florida Bar specifically 3-4.3 (misconduct and minor misconduct) and 4-8.4(b) (criminal misconduct). 

The Rules Regulating the Florida Bar can be found here.

The following are as alleged and summarized from the filing:

Respondent pleaded guilty to one count of patient brokering, a third-degree felony on May 16, 2022. The criminal charges against respondent arose from his minority investment in two companies engaged in providing services related to outpatient substance-abuse treatment. The respondent executed a marketing agreement drafted by reputable lawyers representing Coastal Labs, Inc., which made a single payment to one of Respondent’s companies, KKMBD, LLC. The State asserted that the payment was for patient referrals. Respondent and his fellow investors always acted on the advice of counsel and believed that they were acting within the bounds of the law. Respondent was arrested and thereafter pled guilty rather than risk a more stringent sentence and subject himself and his family to the economic and emotional burden that a trial would impose.

The Report of Referee Accepting Consent Judgment recommended that Respondent be found guilty of misconduct and that he be suspended for two years nunc pro tunc from August 24, 2022, the date of entry of respondent’s felony suspension, and for Respondent to pay The Florida Bar’s costs amounting to $1,370.00.

With the foregoing facts and discussions, the court ruled against the Respondent in relation to the above-cited Rules of Professional Conduct

The Disposition reads:

“The uncontested report of the referee is approved and respondent is suspended from the practice of law for two years. Respondent is currently suspended; therefore this suspension is effective, nunc pro tunc, August 24, 2022.”

Judgment is entered for The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300, for recovery of costs from Brian Alfred Mangines in the amount of $1,370.00, for which sum let execution issue.”

According to LinkedIn, Mr. Mangines is the owner of Auslin Legal Staffing, Inc. He has been licensed in Florida.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.