McGuireWoods partner Howard Vick et al. facing criminal investigation
FBI special agents are currently investigating all aspects of why three generations of Henrico County Commonwealth Attorneys refused to extradite "international fugitive" Nickolas Spanos, despite knowing his exact location. Spanos and his attorney are cooperating with FBI investigators and providing all evidence pertaining to the allegations against high profile attorneys involved.
The big mystery of why "international fugitive" Nickolas Spanos has never been extradited back to Virginia to face 13 grand jury indictments for allegedly distributing 600 kilos of cocaine in the Richmond area has been solved.
Well respected attorney Howard Vick made a decision in December 1998 to choose one of two paths; the 1st was to uphold his sworn duty as Henrico Commonwealths Attorney and extradite Nickolas Spanos from Greece to face the 13 grand jury indictments, the 2nd was to choose his upcoming partnership with McGuireWoods and rejoin his mentor Richard Cullen. Howard Vick could not have both as Nickolas Spanos was a long term client with McGuireWoods, his family estate holding worth millions of dollars.
Howard Vick chose to take the devils choice and go with his golden ticket with McGuireWoods which has entangled high profile names in its path. To avoid extraditing an international fugitive who allegedly distributed more than 600 kilos of cocaine and assist the fugitive to remain free has its dangerous risks.
On December 14, 1998, just days after the several grand jury indictments were issued and HCCA Howard Vick announced in the media about the drug syndicate that had operated in the Richmond area for more than a decade, Howard Vick had a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution issued for Nickolas Spanos, who had fled for Greece. Howard Vick never acted on the federal warrant nor did he notify the State department to cancel Spanos's passport.
On April 15, 1999, more indictments were issued against Nickolas Spanos after his "associates" pleaded guilty and testified against him, providing more evidence to Howard Vick and his team of investigators, but again no action was taken to extradite Spanos from Greece.
On May 25, 2000, Howard Vick tenders his early resignation from HCCA to join McGuireWoods law firm in June 2000, joining his mentor Richard Cullen. Wade Kizer assumes the HCCA position. http://www.richmond.com/city-life/news/article_511631a5-9b51-5583-b112-6b944498564b.html
On July 06, 2001, the federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, against Nickolas Spanos, is dismissed by a government motion. The government motion and order to dismiss have gone missing from Henrico County Circuit Court and U.S. Attorneys office files. The missing documents are:
- December 11, 1998, Complaint against Nickolas Spanos by HCCA Howard Vick.
- December 14, 1998, Federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.
- July 07, 2001, Motion by Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney's Office to dismiss the December 14, 1998 federal warrant issued against Nickolas Spanos.
- July 07, 2001, Dismissal order of the December 14, 1998 federal warrant.
Why would HCCA Wade Kizer file a motion to dismiss the federal UFAP warrant against Nickolas Spanos, since there is no statute of limitations on UFAP warrants.
On September 15, 2006, Nickolas Spanos renews his U.S. passport at the U.S. embassy Athens, Greece.
On February 20, 2007, a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution is issued for Nickolas Spanos by an affidavit signed by Christopher Doering, Special Agent, FBI, he states the exact location of Spanos, as listed on his passport application, Messologion 21, Athens, Greece. January 12, 2007, Henrico Police Investigator E.S. Brown requests from the FBI in locating Spanos. HCCA Wade Kizer takes no action to extradite Spanos or notify the State department to cancel Spanos's passport. CLICK TO VIEW FBI 2007 WARRANT FILE
On October 18, 2012, Nickolas Spanos is arrested in the Philippines by Immigration authorities from request of the U.S. embassy Manila. FBI legal attaches notify Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor of Nickolas Spanos arrest and request that extradition be processed for his return to Virginia to be prosecuted. FBI cancels Spanos's U.S. passport.
For 19 months, Philippine DOJ officials demand several times, that authenticated copies of the 1998-99 grand jury indictments for Nickolas Spanos be sent so that he can be formally extradited to the USA. HCCA Shannon Taylor refuses to provide Philippine DOJ authorities any documents pertaining to Nickolas Spanos.
On June 01, 2014, Nickolas Spanos is deported to his safe haven of Greece.
On June 02, 2014, Nickolas Spanos is arrested by Greek DOJ authorities by an Interpol Red Notice issued by the FBI.
On July 30, 2014, an extradition request was received by the Greek DOJ from assistant HCCA Michael Feinmel through the U.S. DOJ Office of International Affairs.
On August 20, 2014 - Greek Department of Justice charged Nickolas G. Spanos, under Greek law for the criminal offenses set out in all 1998-99 Henrico County Circuit Court Criminal Indictments
Greek DOJ authorities request more evidence and files from HCCA Shannon Taylor, Taylor refuses to provide additional evidence.
On September 24, 2014, a Greek tribunal denies the extradition request and questions why the U.S. DOJ/embassy is not represented by anyone in the hearing.
On March 27, 2015, the Greek Tribunal dismissed all pending Henrico County Criminal Charges against Spanos, which were set out in the 1998-99 Henrico County Circuit Court Indictments. Nickolas Spanos is released from Korydallos Prison.
An interesting detail emerged from the March 27, 2015 Greek Tribunal hearing; Under Greek law, the statute of limitations for drug offences are based on two factors. The 1st is that, if the amount sold is under 75,000 Euro, the statute of limitation is 15 years to be prosecuted. The 2nd is that, if the amount sold is over 75,000 Euro, the statute of limitation is 20 years to be prosecuted, which carries the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
During the Spanos trial, the prosecutor and judges calculated the amount of cocaine allegedly sold by Spanos, based on the witnesses testimony in the indictments, at 42,000 Euro, thus the 15 years statute of limitation applied since Spanos's indictments were from 1998-99.
Why did Howard Vick state, openly in the media, that the amount of cocaine distributed by Spanos, "a key player in the drug operation", was over 600 kilos, when the witness testimony in the grand jury indictments only allege approximately $47,000 (42,000. Euro). Was this a tactic by Howard Vick to scare Spanos into remaining a fugitive and not return voluntarily to face the 13 indictments?
The unanswered questions are:
Who is powerful enough to purge the 1998-2001 federal warrants and the missing orders from Henrico County Circuit Court and U.S. Attorney files?
Why would ex-HCCA Wade Kizer and present HCCA Shannon Taylor take such dangerous risks for Howard Vick, knowing that the missing pieces could come together sooner or later?
Will HCCA Shannon Taylor be rewarded for her actions with a "golden ticket" McGuireWoods partnership?
Will McGuireWoods partner Richard Cullen, use his vast and powerful influence in the U.S. DOJ to cover the long history of alleged criminal actions by Howard Vick et al.?
