Fen-Phen Lawyers Charged With Defrauding Clients
Two of the owners of the Preakness champion Curlin were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on a charge that they conspired to defraud their clients in a $200 million lawsuit settlement with the maker of the diet drug fen-phen.
The grand jury in Covington, Ky., indicted the lawyers Shirley A. Cunningham Jr., 52, and William J. Gallion, 56, on one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
If convicted, each could receive a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The federal sentencing guidelines are no longer mandatory, so it is unlikely they will receive the maximum penalty if they are found guilty.
The grand jury also handed up one forfeiture count each, which would require the defendants, if