Reputed New York mob lawyer represents man charged in Danbury drug ring

 

reputed member of the Hells Angels indicted in February as part of a large-scale marijuana ring in the area is being represented by a veteran New York City attorney Murray Richman who has reportedly represented members of New York City organized crime families. Richman, who said Tuesday he has represented everyone from "judges to reporters," has filed paperwork with the U.S. District Court saying he is representing Kevin Lubic, who court officials have said is associated with the Hells Angels motorcycle club. Richman, a Bronx criminal defense attorney for more than 40 years, has reportedly represented members of all five organized crime families operating out of New York City. Lubic, 48, of Salem N.Y., was one of four men indicted in February on federal drug charges. The others were Brookfield resident Glenn Wagner, Bethel resident Mark Mansa and Richard Sciaccetano of Stuart, Fla., who authorities said has ties to the Bonnano crime family. Federal prosecutors said Mansa headed an operation that sold more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated local street value of between $3 million and $7 million, last year alone. Richman, known in some circles as "Don't Worry Murray," represented Lubic when he was convicted in 2002 of a federal drug trafficking charge in New York. Lubic was released from prison in February 2007 after serving a 77-month sentence, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Early 2007 is about when prosecutors said the marijuana distribution ring got up and running. Peter Schaffer, an attorney representing Mansa, said previously in court that Lubic was the ring's connection to Sciaccetano. A federal prosecutor said in court earlier this year that Sciaccetano was previously convicted of drug trafficking for moving more than "54,000 pounds" of marijuana. Prosecutors have said Mansa used his associations with criminal figures, including Lubic and Sciaccetano, to intimidate others. "Mansa put out there, as part of the psychology of his organization, that he, too, is a very dangerous person," Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo said during a March 1 hearing in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport. Lubic was photographed by Life magazine while attending a Sept. 24, 2009, book signing in New York City with Phil Carlo, author of "The Butcher: Anatomy of a Mafia Psychopath," along with actor Mickey Rourke and Chuck Zito, former president of the New York Hell' Angels chapter. Both Lubic and Sciaccetano have been charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana in the case. Mansa, who also is facing conspiracy charges related to marijuana distribution, is the only member of the drug ring facing charges for distributing steroids. Federal officials said Mansa has been selling steroids in the area for more than seven years and counted local high school athletes and body builders among his clients. The investigation into the drug ring, which began in 2005, included Danbury Police Department detectives and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency personnel. Vizcarrondo said previously in court that Mansa bragged about his associations with police officers in the New Milford, Danbury and Wilton police departments, a claim that has been denied by local law enforcement officials.