Leonard N. Ross
Leonard N. Ross, the former law partner of Philadelphia Mayor John Street, joined the Greenberg Traurig Philadelphia office in April 2000. [1]
"Ross, 58, is a former city prosecutor and was Street's sole law partner in the 1990s. When Street became mayor, he appointed Ross to head his transition committee. Ross joined the law firm Greenberg Traurig L.L.P. in 2000 under an unusual deal in which he would be paid [$10,000 a month] 'for so long as John Street is the mayor of Philadelphia.' He resigned" in November 2005. [2]
Plead Guilty on Extortion Charges
Leonard N. Ross "became the 18th person charged in a [Philadelphia] City Hall corruption probe" when he plead guilty December 6, 2005, "to corruption and extortion charges - allegations that he used his public position to win business for his wife, pay off an embarrassing $80,000 debt, and raise campaign cash for Street," John Shiffman and Marcia Gelbert reported in the December 7, 2005, Philadelpia Inquirer.
According to U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan, Ross "chaired a Street-appointed panel in 2003 that was to select a developer for Penn's Landing" and "used that position and 'his relationship with the mayor to sell his office and to sell out the people of Philadelphia... . Len Ross' financial well-being depended on John Street's winning reelection in 2003. In fact, Ross had a deal with a law firm, $10,000 a month, so long as Street remained mayor.'"
Profiles
According to his Greenberg Traurig profile (cache file), "Leonrd N. Ross (Of Counsel) born 1947; admitted to bar, 1972, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Education: George Washington University (B.A., 1969; J.D., 1972). Assistant Public Defender, 1972-1976. Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia, 1976-1981. Fellow of the Academy of Advocacy, 1983. Member: Philadelphia Bar Association; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association; Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers. Practice Areas: General Practice; Government Relations; Litigation."
External links
- "Political Notes," Philadelphia CityPaper.net, December 16-19, 1999: "...Among the other guests in the hall were attorney Leonard N. Ross, a key supporter and behind-the-scenes guy for Mayor-elect John Street (Street was also in New York traveling with a large entourage)..."
- "Leonard N. Ross, Former Law Partner of Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Joins Greenberg Traurig LLP," Greenberg Traurig, April 3, 2000.
- John Shiffman, "Corruption inquiry turns to ex-adviser to Street," Philadelphia Inquirer, November 13, 2005.
- John Shiffman, "Lawyer's loan gets scrutiny in probe. The former head of a Penn's Landing redevelopment committee is part of an FBI inquiry into corruption," Philadelphia Inquirer, November 25, 2005.
- John Shiffman and Marcia Gelbert, "Street fundraiser charged with corruption," Philadelphia Inquirer, December 6, 2005.
- Jeff Blumenthal, "Confidante to Phila. mayor indicted in alleged development scheme," Philadelphia Business Journal, December 6, 2005.
- "Abramoff law firm has a new scandal -- in Philly," Attytood, December 6, 2005.
- John Shiffman and Marcia Gelbert, "Friend of Street to admit guilt. The mayor's former law partner was charged with extortion," Philadelphia Inquirer, December 7, 2005.
