U.S. charges well-known Phila. lawyer with drug-ring work

Federal authorities on Friday accused a Philadelphia defense lawyer, a mainstay at the Criminal Justice Center, of laundering money and serving as the in-house counsel for a multimillion-dollar Maryland-based drug ring.

J. Michael Farrell, 63, made his initial appearance on 12 counts, including conspiracy to launder drug proceeds and witness tampering, before a magistrate judge in Greenbelt, Md.

Prosecutors say that between 2009 and 2013, Farrell accepted cash from several of the trafficking organization's leaders, and deposited it in his business accounts as if they had hired him to represent them. Later, he allegedly used the funds to protect the organization's interests through the legal system.

Farrell's involvement came to light, investigators said, after a 2009 raid on a Baltimore home turned up several records pertaining to the organization - including ledgers reflecting $10 million in drug sales, warehouses in Baltimore rented to store marijuana, and the purchase of a private jet.

According to the indictment, Farrell at times disbursed drug money to pay for lawyers for members of the organization, and put funds in the inmate accounts of jailed traffickers at the direction of the organization's leaders.

In 2012, as outlined in court filings, Farrell allegedly agreed to pay for representation of a drug dealer if he agreed not to tell federal investigators more about the group's activities than they already knew.

Calls to Farrell's office at 718 Arch St. were not returned Friday. He also did not respond to requests for comment through email.

Farrell has often defended clients in high-profile cases in Philadelphia. In 2001, he led an unsuccessful appeal on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

jroebuck@phillynews.com215-854-2608@jeremyrroebuck