On September 11, 2023, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility recommended the disbarment of attorney Brian David O’Neill following his guilty plea to two counts of wire fraud.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Brian David O’Neill,” with case no. 2022-D211.
O’Neill pleaded guilty to wire fraud violations and was subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison on May 17, 2023. On July 13, 2023, disciplinary counsel filed said judgment in a criminal case with the Court of Appeals, leading to O’Neill’s suspension and the initiation of a formal proceeding by the Board. O’Neill did not file a response to the disciplinary counsel’s statement recommending his disbarment as he was found guilty of crimes involving moral turpitude.
The D.C. Code § 11-2503(a) mandates the disbarment of a bar member convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, and the Court has previously determined that wire fraud falls under this category. As a result, the Board recommends O’Neill’s disbarment.
The recommendation states:
“For the foregoing reasons, the Board recommends that the Court disbar Respondent pursuant to D.C. Code § 11-2503(a) based on his conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude per se”
Mr. O’Neill acquired his law license in the District of Columbia in 2017. His info can be found on avvo.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
