Matter Of Robert L Rimberg

124 N.Y.S.3d 75 (S.Ct. App. Div. 2020)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Rimberg (D) admitted that he did operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business in Manhattan which was established to affect more than one interstate wire transmission that was not registered under Section 5330 of Title [31] within the required 180 days. D was introduced to a business investor from South America who wished to invest $1 million in cash for the production of a movie. The goal was to use the $1 million to leverage an additional $5 million from lenders to be used for the marketing of the movie. D was assured that the money was 'clean.' The idea was for the $1 million cash to be delivered to D's offices, and for the money to be deposited into a client's account, and then wired to different designated accounts. D testified that he 'didn't feel good about it,' but agreed and went ahead with the arrangement. D was paid a $25,000 fee. Several years later, D learned that the money was 'drug money.' D was initially charged with money laundering; however, upon acknowledgment by the government that D had no knowledge that the money was linked to narcotics, the respondent pleaded guilty to a lesser offense. On October 19, 2017, D was immediately suspended from the practice of law. D asks this Court to consider the fact that no client was harmed, that he has already paid a high price professionally for his actions, that he is a devoted family man, and that he has engaged in many volunteer and charitable activities in his community.