Kathy Russell’s Curcio Hearing – Ballerina Bookkeeper wants to keep Bronfman-paid attorneys

The Curcio hearings in the case of the U.S. v. Raniere et al., have begun – and, as expected, the first participant, Keith Alan Raniere, has chosen to stay with his current defense attorneys rather than have the presiding judge, Nicholas G. Garaufis, appoint an independent attorney to represent him.

And why wouldn’t Raniere do that?

After all, he currently has five highly-skilled, hugely-expensive attorneys trying to keep him from spending the rest of his life in federal prison: Marc Agnifilo, Jacob Kaplan and Teny R. Geragos from the Brafman & Associates law firm – and Paul DerOhannesian and Danielle R. Smith from the DerOhannesian & DerOhannesian law firm.

One of Keith Raniere's defense attorneys, Paul DerOhannsian, cross examined FBI Senior Forensic Examiner Brian Booth

And his lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, is also the only attorney who was paid a significant upfront retainer from the Legal Defense Trust Fund that was set up by Clare Bronfman to pay for all of her co-defendants’ legal fees.

Marc Agnifilo

All the other attorneys are just billing by the hour – and hoping to get paid as much as possible before the Trust Fund runs out of money (According to Marc Agnifilo, all those attorneys are going to continue working even if they’re not getting paid).

Will Kathy Russell gladly go to prison for Keith Raniere?

Will Kathy Russell go to prison to save Keith Raniere? She told Judge Nicholas Garaufis that she wants to keep the lawyers that are being paid by Clare Bronfman, her codefendant, and who were probably selected for her.

Kathy Russell has also had her Curcio hearing – and has also chosen to keep her current attorneys: Justine A. Harris and Amanda Ravitch from the Sher Tremonte LLP law firm.

Lauren Salzman

Lauren Salzman had her Curcio hearing yesterday. If she follows her Vanguard and plans to spend years in prison, she likely affirmed that she wants to retain her Arizona-based attorneys that some suspect were selected for her by Arizona Mafia Capo Dennis Burke.

Lauren Salzman had her Curcio hearing yesterday  – and was expected to choose to stay with her current attorneys: Hector J. Diaz and Andrea S. Tazoli from the Quarles & Brady LLP law firm out of Arizona.

The Curcio hearing for Nancy Salzman is scheduled to take place on February 25th – and the one for Allison Mack on February 28th, which is also the date for the next Status Conference in the case.

Both are expected to opt for keeping their current attorneys: Mark Sullivan from The Ashcroft Law Firm and David Stern and Robert Soloway from the Rothman, Schneider, Soloway & Stern, P.C. law firm for Salzman – and William F. McGovern, Steven G. Kobre, Sean S. Buckley, Matthew I. Menchel, and Gabriela Magda Ruiz from the Kobre & Kim LLC law firm for Mack.

Nancy Salzman

Nancy will be asked if she wants to keep her high-powered Bronfman-paid defense attorneys.

"What, me worry? - I believe in Vanguard!, the smartest man in the world. He will bring me great fame." -- Allison Mack

“What, me worry? – I believe in Vanguard!, the smartest man in the world. He will bring me great fame.” — Allison Mack