Jan.06, 2010

A Columbus attorney pleaded guilty Wednesday to money laundering as part of a drug-trafficking ring led by a Pataskala man.

Kyle L. Hunter, 40, admitted to receiving about $100,000 on Oct. 1, 2007, through his position as an attorney and not reporting it as required by federal law, according to court records.

The money was part of a multistate marijuana-trafficking ring, in which the Pataskala-based leader Donald G. Dailey Jr. moved as much as 33 tons of marijuana over eight years.

Dailey was sentenced to 20 years in prison in late October for conspiracy, drug, firearms and tax crimes.

Hunter faces up to five years in prison, a $25,000 fine and three years of supervised release, said Fred Alverson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Hunter will be sentenced within the next eight weeks, Alverson said.

Hunter also agreed to forfeit 976 Bellows Ave., Columbus, a property he bought with drug proceeds, Alverson said.

By pleading guilty, the U.S. Attorney’s Office agreed not to prosecute Hunter for other money laundering, tax and narcotics allegations, according to the plea agreement signed by Hunter in October.

Another Columbus attorney, Charles W. McGowan, 41, delayed his plea to further consider the prosecution’s offer, his attorney Greg Peterson said. His next hearing was set for Jan. 13.

McGowan had signed an agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and failure to report payment in a trade of business in October. In exchange, he would not be prosecuted for money laundering, mortgage fraud, tax and narcotics allegations, according to the plea agreement.

McGowan is accused of laundering between $30,000 and $70,000 and failing to report between $120,000 and $200,000, according to the plea agreement.

McGowan could face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 and three years of supervised release.