An associate at Denton’s Los Angeles office has been arrested after allegedly trying to extort his own partners.
After a year at the firm Michael Potere told Dentons that he wanted a change of direction and would start a postgraduate degree in the autumn. He asked whether he could continue working until then, but was told that his last day would in fact be 1st June. In response it is claimed that he accessed a partner’s email account (Dentons has legendary IT security…), obtained a stack of sensitive information and then told the firm that he would leak it to the website abovethelaw.com if they didn’t give him $210,000. And a piece of artwork from the firm’s collection.
The FBI and the US Attorney’s Office have filed a complaint which claims, amongst other things, that Potere told partners at the firm that he had nothing to lose. Well, apart from his good name, freedom, all his worldy possessions and the ability to enjoy a warm shower in the morning free of PTSD.
The FBI came knocking last week and Potere spent a night in jail before appearing in court last Friday. He will now be tried for interference with commerce by threats or violence.
Dentons said that Potere was no longer at the firm. A spokeswoman said “we are cooperating with law enforcement and, as we do at all times, we have taken appropriate and necessary steps to protect the safety of our employees, the confidentiality of our clients, and the property of our firm. Dentons is very appreciative of the highly professional and diligent nature with which the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney's office have conducted their investigation."
Tip Off ROF
After a year at the firm Michael Potere told Dentons that he wanted a change of direction and would start a postgraduate degree in the autumn. He asked whether he could continue working until then, but was told that his last day would in fact be 1st June. In response it is claimed that he accessed a partner’s email account (Dentons has legendary IT security…), obtained a stack of sensitive information and then told the firm that he would leak it to the website abovethelaw.com if they didn’t give him $210,000. And a piece of artwork from the firm’s collection.
The FBI and the US Attorney’s Office have filed a complaint which claims, amongst other things, that Potere told partners at the firm that he had nothing to lose. Well, apart from his good name, freedom, all his worldy possessions and the ability to enjoy a warm shower in the morning free of PTSD.
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Michael Potere. Doesn't want to be a lawyer any more. Does want cash. And a present actually. |
The FBI came knocking last week and Potere spent a night in jail before appearing in court last Friday. He will now be tried for interference with commerce by threats or violence.
Dentons said that Potere was no longer at the firm. A spokeswoman said “we are cooperating with law enforcement and, as we do at all times, we have taken appropriate and necessary steps to protect the safety of our employees, the confidentiality of our clients, and the property of our firm. Dentons is very appreciative of the highly professional and diligent nature with which the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney's office have conducted their investigation."
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