Angelo Giordano's lawyer asks to step down, saying the attorney-client relationship has broken down. The charges include bank fraud and money laundering.
By Associated Press
Published September 9, 2003
FORT MYERS - A judge has appointed a new attorney to represent a man accused of scamming investors out of $1.6-million.
Angelo Giordano, 35, is awaiting trial on charges including wire and bank fraud, money laundering and transporting stolen property across state lines.
He faces 30 years in prison and $1.75-million in fines if convicted.
U.S. District Judge John E. Steele allowed Tampa lawyer Manuel Machin to withdraw from the case after finding "a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship" in an Aug. 28 order. Steele appointed attorney Charles Michael Harris of Fort Myers to represent Giordano.
Machin filed a motion in early August asking to withdraw from the case or proceed under the "free narrative approach."
Under the approach, an attorney puts the client on the witness stand and allows him to tell his story without participating in the testimony.
Lawyers are prevented by law and codes of ethics from helping a client commit perjury.
Machin wrote that Giordano ignored his advice to enter a plea to the charges and "may be using counsel's services to perpetuate a crime or fraud" on the court.
Machin wrote that he might have already unintentionally presented "false and misleading statements" in court because of the questionable things he and his associates were told by Giordano.
Machin added that his relationship with Giordano had broken down to the point that he only communicated with him in writing or in court and that Giordano had threatened to file a complaint with the Florida Bar against him.
Giordano is in the Lee County Jail, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas N. Frazier sent him on April 21 because Giordano violated his bail terms by not providing the court proof that he owns a home in Las Vegas, which he had put up as collateral on a $100,000 signature bond.
He also had continued "to engage in fraudulent transactions," Frazier wrote.
Giordano was indicted in February for allegedly cheating several investors by telling them he would build casino boats.
He was also accused of making a series of fraudulent bank transactions totaling $519,500.
Giordano signed a contract with the Fort Myers City Council in 1997 to dock a gambling ship off a downtown pier, but the project was canceled when the council questioned Giordano's credibility as a business partner.
