Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M92592

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A. GAIL PRUDENTI, P.J.

WILLIAM F. MASTRO

REINALDO E. RIVERA

PETER B. SKELOS

ANITA R. FLORIO, JJ.

1999-05505 In the Matter of J. Kevin Meneilly, admitted as James Kevin Meneilly, a disbarred attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 1582055)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION

Motion by the respondent for reinstatement to the Bar as an attorney and counselor-at-law. The respondent was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department on December 16, 1959, under the name James Kevin Meneilly. By decision and order on motion of this court dated October 27, 1999, the respondent was immediately suspended from the practice of law, upon being found guilty of a serious crime, conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 USC § 371 (two counts), making false statements on income tax returns in violation of 26 USC § 7202(1) (two counts), and aiding tax fraud in violation of 26 USC § 7206(2), and was directed to apprise the court upon being sentenced therefor. On September 6, 2000, he was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment on the tax conspiracy counts and 36 months imprisonment on the charges involving tax fraud and false statements, with the terms to run concurrent. In addition, he was directed to make restitution in the amount of $40,000. By opinion and order of this Court dated December 26, 2000, he was disbarred, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4), upon a finding that his conviction of aiding tax fraud, in violation of 26 USC § 7602(2), was essentially similar to the New York State felony of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, Penal Law § 175.25. By decision and order on motion of this court dated April 23, 2001, upon reargument, the previous opinion and order was recalled and vacated, the respondent was immediately suspended from the practice of law upon his conviction of a serious crime, the Grievance Committee was authorized to institute and prosecute a disciplinary hearing, and the matter was referred to the Honorable Joseph A. Esquirol, as Special Referee to hear and report. By opinion and order of this court dated May 13, 2002, the respondent was disbarred based on his resignation and his name was struck from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law, effective immediately. By decision and order on motion of this court dated July 2, 2008, the respondent's first application for reinstatement was denied as premature.

Upon the papers submitted in support of the motion and the papers submitted in relation thereto, it is

ORDERED that the respondent's motion is held in abeyance and the matter is referred to the Committee on Character and Fitness to investigate and report on the respondent's fitness to be an attorney.

PRUDENTI, P.J., MASTRO, RIVERA, SKELOS and FLORIO, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

James Edward Pelzer

Clerk of the Court