On Monday, May 22, 2023, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ordered the temporary suspension of Philadelphia Attorney Conrad Benedetto over his guilty plea to tax charges.
The case is styled ‘In the Matter of Conrad Benedetto’ and was brought by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel under case no. 76 DB 2023.
Benedetto pleaded guilty to multiple tax fraud charges on November 30, 2022. He admitted to intentionally evading payment of the correct amount of personal and business taxes to the IRS over several years related to his law practice in Philadelphia. The charges included failure to file a tax return and failure to collect or pay employment tax.
According to the court document, the temporary suspension was in consideration of the Joint Petition to Temporarily Suspend Benedetto filed by the parties in relation to the disciplinary charges against Benedetto pursuant to Pa.R.D.E. 214(d)(5), which states:
At any time before a plea or verdict or after a guilty plea or verdict of guilt in the criminal proceeding, Disciplinary Counsel and the respondent-attorney may file with the Court a joint petition for temporary suspension of the respondent-attorney on the ground that the respondent-attorney’s temporary suspension is in the best interest of the respondent and the legal system.
Accordingly, the Court has granted the parties’ petition to temporarily suspend Benedetto, ruling in favor of imposing disciplinary action against him.
The Order reads:
“AND NOW, this 22nd day of May 2023, the Joint Petition to Temporarily Suspend an Attorney is granted, and Conrad Benedetto is placed on temporary suspension. . . Respondent shall comply with all the provisions of Pa.R.D.E 217.
Benedetto was also reprimanded by the Supreme Court in March of this year for his failure to supervise his newly hired associate in handling a client matter.
Mr. Benedetto practices in Philadelphia. He graduated from Widener University. He has been admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, license no. 34666, as well as in New Jersey. His info can be found on Avvo.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
