Court suspends law license of Philly attorney convicted in drug case

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has suspended the law license of a Philadelphia defense attorney who was convicted last month of laundering money for a Baltimore-based drug gang, officials announced Friday.

J. Michael Farrell's suspension will begin on April 9, according to a news release from the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court. The suspension was characterized as temporary but did not have an end date. Farrell is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Maryland in May and could face prison time for his offenses.

Farrell was convicted on 10 total counts, including conspiracy to engage in money laundering, tampering with an official proceeding, and tampering with a witness. Prosecutors accused him of depositing drug money into his account and concealing its source, and buying and sending money to incarcerated members of the drug organization he represented, among other crimes.

His son, Brian Farrell, has said his father planned to appeal the case. Earlier this month, the elder Farrell filed a motion for a new trial, according to court records.