ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603070039
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA.
SOURCE: Associated Press
F. Lee Bailey, who has spent his career trying to keep famous clients out of jail, was hauled away in handcuffs and leg irons Wednesday to serve a six-month sentence for failing to produce $25 million in stock from a drug dealer he once represented.
U.S. District Judge Maurice Paul had given the 62-year-old defense attorney until 5 p.m. to come up with the $2.3 million he needed to get the stock released by a Swiss bank, or be jailed for contempt of court.
At 4:34 p.m., a grim-faced Bailey bolted from a car in front of the federal courthouse and strode through a throng of reporters, spreading his arms and bowling over several on his way in.
Bailey was searched, fingerprinted and photographed, then driven to the federal jail in Tallahassee.
Bailey contends the assets from a former client were for his fee and expenses; prosecutors claim most of the money belongs to the government because the drug dealer forfeited his assets as part of a plea bargain.
The judge had demanded that Bailey turn over the stock while the question of ownership is decided.
Bailey, whose clients have included O.J. Simpson, Patty Hearst, the Boston Strangler and Dr. Sam Sheppard, had pleaded with a federal appeals court in Atlanta for more time, insisting he had a made a good-faith effort to come up with the money.
But on Tuesday, the court turned him down. Appeals Judge Ed Carnes said Bailey had been ``clutching, clawing and scraping'' to keep the assets.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB