On Thursday, December 22, 2022, the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) for the State of Illinois filed a complaint against Chicago attorney Andrew Franklin alleging misconduct.

The case is titled In the Matter of Andrew Franklin with case no.2022PR00087.

The charges cited Rule 8.4(b) and (c) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibits:

Committing criminal acts that reflect adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; and

Conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

The complaint is in relation to Franklin’s guilty plea to a Class 4 felony for possession of a controlled substance. The complaint further alleges that Franklin engaged in misconduct by using a fake driver’s license to rent a U.S. post office box under a fictitious name in order to conceal his receipt of illegal drugs.

The Complaint states:

“Beginning in 2019, Respondent began acquiring ecstasy pills (MDMA) on the dark web. Respondent would purchase the pills using cryptocurrency and have the package shipped to Joseph Borrel at the PO box. Generally, there would be approximately 10 days between Respondent placing an order and receiving the package. After obtaining the pills, Respondent would then sell them to a known dealer for a net profit of approximately $5,000 per transaction.”

The Complaint continues:

“On October 23, 2020, investigators were alerted that Respondent had retrieved the parcel from the PO box. Investigators followed Respondent’s vehicle to a parking garage. Shortly thereafter, investigators received an alert from the alarming device, notifying them that the parcel had been opened. As an investigator approached the rear of Respondent’s vehicle, they observedRespondent with a bundle of pills in his hand and the open parcel in the trunk. Respondent was then arrested.”

The Complaint further alleges:

“On or about May 25, 2022, following plea negotiations between Respondent’s counsel and the Cook County State’s Attorney’sOffice, Count IV of the indictment was amended to a Class 4 felony for possession of a controlled substance, in violation of 720 ILCS 570/402(c). On that date, Respondent entered a plea of guilty to the amended Count IV of the indictment. TheCook CountyState’s Attorney’s Office entered a nolle prosequi to Counts I, II, and III, dismissing those counts of the indictment.”

On May 25, 2022, Franklin was sentenced to 24 months of probation with condition that if Franklin completes his probation without incident, the court shall discharge Franklin and dismiss the proceedings against him. Franklin was further ordered to undergo a mental health assessment and treatment, perform 30  hours of community service, and submit to random drug testing.

Based on these acts, the Administrator requested that this disciplinary matter be assigned to and be heard by a panel of the Hearing Board, and for the panel to make findings of fact, conclusions of fact, and law, and recommend the imposition of discipline upon Franklin.

Mr. Andrew Franklin practices in Chicago, and has been licensed in Illinois, with license no. 6320628.

A copy of the Complaint can be found here.