International fugitive drug case could bring career ending problems for Shannon Taylor

Virginia Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor et al, faces serious problems for 2019

The 20 year old case of an international fugitive accused of distributing more than 600 kilos of cocaine in the Richmond area could bring career ending sanctions and criminal charges for Henrico County Commonwealth Attorneys Shannon Taylor and Michael Feinmel.

Virginia Corrupt Lawyers was able to obtain a December 19, 2018 filing which demanded sanctions and investigations into HCCA office and the Henrico County Circuit Clerks office, stating criminal actions, Constitutional and Civil rights violations.

READ PDF SANCTIONS-INVESTIGATION

Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Michael Y. Feinmel is accused of perjury, submitting false evidence and witnesses in his July 21, 2014 affidavit requesting extradition from Greece for the international fugitive Nickolas Spanos, he is also accused of Constitutional and Civil rights violations, which is a federal crime under U.S. Sec. 242 of Title 18, violation of the Color of Law.

A long list of prosecutorial misconduct, blatant disregard for the rules and procedures of the Virginia Supreme Court and the Department of Justice procedures is stated in the sanctions filings.

Crucial missing documents and orders are missing from the Henrico County Circuit Court Clerks office. Staff in the Henrico County Circuit Courts office have verified that crucial motions and orders are missing from their files which have been recorded on their database management system.

A hearing date for the Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice the 13 grand jury indictments is scheduled for January 17, 2019 in Henrico County Circuit Court by Judge L.A. Harris.

Copies of the complaint have been filed with the Virginia State Bar, in which Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor sits on the Legal Ethics Committee and was the 1st woman to be elected to the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney position.

More serious accusations of personal and professional gain are stated in the complaint filed, in which Henrico County Circuit Court Judge L. A. Harris will decide if and what sanctions will be imposed, more serious is if Judge L.A. Harris will turn over the sanction filed to federal authorities for investigation.

CA Shannon Taylor and Michael Feinmel inherited the international fugitives case from ex-HCCA Howard Vick and Wade Kizer. The highly peculiar case continues to raise many suspicions on why the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorneys office has avoided to extradite the international fugitive. Howard Vick is a partner with McGuireWoods law firm, the same law firm who represented the accused drug dealer for over 25 years.

The irregular actions of three generations of HCCA, amounting to over 20 years, have given a strong basis for dismissing 13 grand jury indictments against the accused drug dealer.

Present HCCA Shannon Taylor is scheduled to represent the Democratic party in the 2019 Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney elections slated for November 2019, but her chances seem to be extinguished with the illegal actions involving the Nickolas Spanos case.

It is uncomprehendable of why would 3 generations of HCCA would be giving safe haven to an international fugitive from being extradited, violating their sworn oath, risking their professional careers and possibly being charged with felonies.

McGuireWoods Shadow government exposed in Richmond court filing

NIGHTMARES CONTINUE FOR VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY SHANNON TAYLOR

The day has come that Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor has been having nightmares about, on September 26, 2018, "International Fugitive" Nickolas Spanos has filed his "Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice" thirteen indictments for conspiracy to distribute cocaine dating back from 1998-1999. In his motion, he has exposed the "shadow government" that has controlled the Virginia justice system for at least 20 years and has put 3 generations of Henrico Prosecutors in the hot seat.

In his 300 page motion to dismiss the thirteen indictments, 240 pages are exhibits of evidence exposing the McGuireWoods "shadow government" controlling the Henrico Commonwealth Attorneys office, which done its best to keep the "international fugitive" from being prosecuted in the Henrico County courts, for allegedly distributing over 600 kilos of cocaine in the Richmond for over ten years. 

The motion to dismiss is highly unusual in many ways:

• The thirteen grand jury indictments are from 1998-99, twenty years old.

• The Defendant is acting Pro Se, representing himself.

• The Defendant is located in Greece and has filed his motion to be heard by video and audio conference.

• The Defendant has offered numerous times to turn himself in to U.S. DOJ officials and voluntarily be extradited to Virginia to face trial but HCCA Shannon Taylor refused to pay for his flight.

• The Defendant had been arrested in the Philippines in 2012 and was awaiting extradition for 19 months but HCCA Shannon Taylor refused to file an extradition request and the fugitive was sent back to his safe haven of Greece.

The original HCCA Howard "Toby" Vick, who claimed that Spanos was the "hub of an organization that distributed over 600 kilos of cocaine", had the sole responsibility to bring the fugitive to justice but betrayed his sworn duty to the Commonwealth of Virginia in order to get his "golden ticket" with McGuireWoods law firm. Until now, his "bribe" has paid off well, Howard Vick co-heads of the firm's white collar practice of McGuireWoods largest office out of 26 offices located internationally. CLICK TO SEE HOWARD VICK PROFILE

Howard Vick's decision to become deaf and blind as Henrico Chief prosecutor has earned him a mansion in Windsor farms worth over $2,000,000 and a summer home in Coral Cables, Florida.

The evidence of the September 26, 2018 motion exposes the "shadow government" operated by McGuireWoods law firm, the same law firm that represented Nickolas Spanos and his family. During the grand jury hearings, HCCA Howard "Toby" Vick was negotiating his partnership with McGuireWoods law firm and within one year of the last indictments being issued against Spanos, Howard Vick resigned early from the HCCA to join his mentor, Richard Cullen, the managing partner of McGuireWoods law firm.

Evidence of ex-FBI director James B. Comey is entangled in the "shadow government", James Comey was the assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia in 2001, who for no valid reason, voluntarily dismissed the Federal UFAP warrant against Nickolas Spanos. The 13 indictments were still active, there was no logic in dismissing the UFAP warrant, which took Spanos off the national and international criminal database and allowed him to renew his U.S. passport in 2006. James B. Comey was also a McGuireWoods partner prior to his joining the U.S. DOJ. Richard Cullen is also the godfather of one of James Comey's daughters.

The Motion to dismiss is based on the violation of Spanos's Constitutional rights, primarily the Speedy Trial Act of 1974. The evidence submitted shows that there was highly suspicious activity between the Henrico Commonwealths Attorney's office, U.S. Attorney's office (Richmond) and McGuireWoods law firm, concerning their lack of effort to extradite the fugitive despite knowing his exact location. 

For over 20 years, FBI officials in Virginia, Manila, Philippines and Greece had given the Henrico Commonwealth Attorneys exact information about Spanos to have him extradited to Virginia to be prosecuted but HCCA Howard Vick, Wade Kizer and Shannon Taylor refused to take any action, despite Spanos being arrested and detained in the Philippines for over 19 months awaiting extradition.

This unusual case is scheduled to be heard on January 17, 2019 at the Henrico Circuit Court and is one to follow as it will put pressure on the hearing judge to either abide by his sworn duty and uphold the Constitution or fall into the claws of the "shadow government".

McGuireWoods "shadow government" protected by the FBI

Evidence exposed of the McGuireWoods "shadow government" operating in Virginia's justice system is protected by the FBI.

As with any syndicate operating, protection is priority in order for the syndicate to flourish. Whether it be a mafia, gang or even a large law firm, infiltrating the justice system is the "insurance" in case things go wrong and the activity is exposed. To protect their operations or the members of the syndicate, certain tactics are used, either threats, bribes or positions, in any case, the law is being broken. But when the criminal syndicate is operating within the justice system, who investigates the syndicate members? The answer is the DOJ's watchdog, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but who investigates the FBI when they are part of this syndicate?

Our investigation into the Nickolas Spanos fugitive case has opened a can of worms that has turned into a nightmare for the FBI. The watchdog which has become part of the criminal syndicate can not prosecute its own, especially when the roots of this syndicate reaches the White house.

Criminal complaints were filed with the FBI White Collar Crime Richmond division about this criminal syndicate that has done its best to keep the fugitive Nickolas Spanos from being returned to Virginia to face the 13 grand jury indictments. The FBI Special Agent, Kathryn Weber, who took the report was quoted "Give me some time to digest all this", obviously shocked at the evidence that was given to her., the report was passed up to her superiors. Despite all the evidence of laws being shattered, the investigation has ended abruptly.

As we had covered in our earlier blogs about "avoiding to extradite a fugitive", we had exposed the big question of why the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney has done its best to keep a fugitive, who allegedly distributed more than 600 kilos of cocaine in the Richmond area, from facing the 13 indictments by a grand jury in 1998-99. Despite his known location over the past 20 years and being arrested twice in order to be extradited, the HCCA continues to protect this fugitive, even though the fugitive Nickolas Spanos has even offered to turn himself in to the FBI in Athens, Greece, the HCCA does not want him. 

An email given to our investigators states that HCCA Shannon Taylor will not pay for the one way ticket for Nickolas Spanos to return to Virginia and be prosecuted for 13 grand jury indictments and allegedly distributing more that 600 kilos of cocaine. Shannon Taylor stated to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office that "Nickolas Spanos must voluntarily return to Virginia". How is that possible when Nickolas Spanos no longer has a U.S. passport and has an Interpol arrest warrant (red notice) issued in his name. Even if he bought the ticket, his name would appear in the airlines database and he would be denied a flight since he is an active fugitive. The Commonwealth is "obligated" to return a "fugitive from justice" by any legal means.

This fugitive has a high price on his head but the HCCA Shannon Taylor does not want to pay for a $400 plane ticket? What is $400 next to the failed extradition costs of over $100,000 in Greece? Add in the fact that Nickolas Spanos was arrested in the Philippines and held for 19 months awaiting extradition while HCCA Shannon Taylor committed perjury, shut the door on the Virginia justice system and would not answer the requests of the FBI in Manila to extradite Nickolas Spanos back to Virginia. Even the Philippine DOJ pleaded with HCCA Shannon Taylor to provide authenticated copies of the 13 grand jury indictments but she refused to answer their emails and calls.

This raises many suspicions along with questions, exactly who is HCCA Shannon Taylor protecting? The obvious answer is Nickolas Spanos but he is not alone, McGuireWoods Howard Vick is also a target as Howard Vick was the HCCA when the 13 grand jury indictments were issued in 1998-99 and despite having a Federal warrant issued to bring back fugitive Nickolas Spanos, HCCA Howard Vick did not even bother to cancel Spanos's U.S. passport or inform the Greek DOJ that Spanos had overstayed his 60 day visa, in which the Greek authorities would have been more than happy to send back an "international fugitive" that allegedly distributed more than 600 kilos of cocaine and make big names for themselves in the international media. 

Why bother with prosecuting an international fugitive when Howard Vick had better things to do, like negotiating his "golden ticket" partnership with McGuireWoods Richard Cullen. If Howard Vick brought back Nickolas Spanos, his "golden ticket" would have been extinguished, as Nickolas Spanos was a client of McGuireWoods.

In protecting Howard Vick, Shannon Taylor is protecting Richard Cullen, because Richard Cullen is the head of the McGuireWoods "shadow government" and Richard Cullen is probably the most powerful lawyer in the United States at this writing. Richard Cullen is VP Mike Pence attorney as well as other powerful individuals, see article Richard Cullen facts. Just recently, President Trump appointed Richard Cullen's son, Thomas Cullen to the U.S. Attorney for the western district of Virginia, thus expanding the strong roots of McGuireWoods "shadow government" in Virginia, see the RTD article opinion by columnist Jeff Schapiro, Like father, kind of like son.

Ex-FBI Director James B. Comey, a previous McGuireWoods partner hired by Richard Cullen, was the U.S. Attorney who voluntarily dismissed the December 14, 1998 UFAP warrant on July 06, 2001. There is absolutely no reason to dismiss a Federal UFAP warrant unless the 1998-99 13 grand jury indictments had been dismissed but the subject grand jury indictments are still active. SEE JAMES COMEY ARTICLE, Richard Cullen was the main supporter of James B. Comey's appointment to be the FBI Director. 

All the evidence is clear in Virginia's Shadow Government

International fugitive Nickolas G. Spanos files motion for Brady Material.

Withholding of Brady Material by Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor continues to violate constitutional rights

Despite repeated written requests for over 30 days by Nickolas Spanos's attorney Rhetta M. Daniel, the Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor is withholding and claims it is entitled to continue withholding evidence that from the Defendant that he must have to prepare for his defense of  unserved Indictments.  

The denial of providing the Brady Material has provoked a December 19, 2017 filing of a motion & memorandum totalling 40 pages, to compel the production of Brady Material by the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney.

Furthermore, the motion states "that the Commonwealth failed to provide the requisite documentation to the foreign authorities and the United States authorities in Greece and the Philippines to have the Defendant extradited timely. The Defendant also has reason to believe the Commonwealth has been suppressing evidence that casts grave doubts on the quality of the Commonwealth’s investigation, including evidence that the Commonwealth in its investigation failed to find any physical evidence that the Defendant could be convicted of any of the charges set out in the said Indictments." 

The 1998-99 Grand Jury 13 Indictments against Spanos are for Conspiracy to distribute Cocaine, The indictments claim that Spanos was involved in the trafficking of narcotics from 1987 to 1998.

A meeting, in November 1998, Spanos and his attorney Murray Janus met with Howard Vick and two Henrico detectives, Vick gave Spanos three choices "cooperate by testifying against others, do not cooperate and sit at the table with the big boys or you can leave for Greece". Spanos chose to leave for Greece just weeks before the Grand Jury indictments were issued against him. In various media statements he contended that the indictments were a "witch hunt" by the original Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Howard "Toby" Vick without any material evidence.

Coincidently, Howard Vick resigned from his position as Commonwealth Attorney on June 09, 2000 to join McGuire Woods LLP law firm, who represented Nickolas Spanos as co-trustee for his family trust and other close family members, notably his late father George N. Spanos since 1980.

The motion states that Howard Vick intentionally avoided extraditing Spanos from Greece for reason that it would have dampened his employment opportunity with McGuire Woods LLP by creating a conflict of interest and that employment negotiations were already in place before the Grand jury indictments against Spanos were issued.

The motion also states many irregular actions by the Henrico County Commonwealth Office from 1996 to present day, the most irregular being the failure or inaction of not extraditing Spanos despite knowing where his location has been for 18 years. 

Also stated that on October 18, 2012, Shannon Taylor had Spanos arrested in the Philippines but never processed an extradition request and had denied the Philippines DOJ numerous request for authenticated documents pertaining to the 13 Grand Jury indictments, which led to the illegal detention of Spanos in a Philippine jail for 19 months. The Philippine DOJ deported Spanos to Greece on June 01, 2014.

The motion is specifically requesting the following:

• Legible copies of all documents missing from the Henrico Circuit Court files from 1996 through the present;
• Legible copies of all statements by the defendant and any co-defendants;
• Legible copies of all documents and tangible objects in your possession or under your control that the prosecution will use at any Hearing or a trial;
• A Complete Witness List of all the witnesses the prosecution plans to have testify at a Hearing or at trial, including Ms. Shannon Taylor and Mr. Feinmel, as well as all prior recorded verbal and all written statements, letters, notes, computer documents containing any statements made by those witnesses that are relevant to the underlying Indictments or the extradition procedures engaged in by any person in the Office of the Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney;
• Legible copies of all reports of scientific tests and/or medical and physical examinations that have been prepared for the prosecution of Mr. Spanos;
• Legible copies of all exculpatory evidence within the possession or control of the Henrico County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, the Richmond Circuit Court and/or the Multi-Jurisdictional Grand Jury;
• Legible copies of all documentary or other evidence that will aid in defense of the Defendant's cases that is in possession of or under the control of Henrico County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, the Henrico Police Department, the Richmond Circuit Court and/or the Multi-Jurisdictional Grand Jury;
• Legible copies of all documents and all recorded information that affects the credibility of any prosecution witnesses, such as the prosecution offered its witness leniency in exchange for testimony, but not excluding any other type of information that may affect the credibility of any witness, including Ms. Taylor and Mr. Feinmel; [See: Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972)];
• Legible copies of all other exculpatory evidence such as the identity of all missing, senile or dead witnesses, but not excluding any other type of exculpatory evidence;
• All evidence and documents that contain any reference to any efforts or procedures instituted by Howard C. (Toby) Vick, former Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney to have the Defendant extradited or returned from Greece to the United States;
• All evidence and document that contain any reference to any negotiations for employment or offers of employment from McGuire Woods LLP, or any previous entity to McGuire Woods LLP, related in any manner to Howard C. (Toby) Vick, former Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney, when he was applying for any position or any employment with McGuire Woods LLP, Richmond, VA;
• All evidence and document that contain any reference to any negotiations or offers from McGuire Woods LLP, or any previous entity before McGuireWoods LLP was established, related to Howard C. (Toby) Vick’s, former Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney, having contact with Richard Cullen, Esquire, who was employed by McGuire Woods LLP, Richmond, VA, when Howard C. (Toby) Vick, Esquire, resigned as the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney and became employed by McGuire Wood LLP or any previous entity that became McGuireWoods LLP; https://www.mcguirewoods.com/People/V/Howard-C-Vick-Jr.aspx & https://www.mcguirewoods.com/People/C/Richard-Cullen.aspx; and
• All evidence of any type of personal relationship with any witness between Henrico Detective/Officer J. T. Johnson and/or Detective/Officer . . . Clavert, who were/are or may have been employed by the Henrico County Virginia Police Department, but not excluding any other employees of Henrico County, Virginia, from 1980 through the present.

For additional clarity, I am including and requesting the following described materials, but not excluding any other documents, physical evidence or intangible evidence:

(a) The names and addresses of persons the prosecutor intends to call or may call as witnesses at trial.

(b) Statements of all other defendants and Mr. Spanos.

(c) All relevant "real evidence" seized or obtained as a part of the investigation of the offenses charged.

(d) The existence of a felony conviction of any material witness whose credibility is likely to be critical to the outcome of the trial.

(e) Any exculpatory evidence.

(f) Relevant written or recorded statements of witnesses or reports of the statements of witnesses whom the prosecutor intends to call at the trial, including any reports or statements of experts made in conjunction with the case, including the results of physical or mental examinations, scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons which the prosecutor intends to offer in evidence at the trial.

Spanos's attorney Rhetta M. Daniel states in the motion, that because of the irregular actions and violation of Spanos's constitutional rights, by the three (3) generations of Commonwealths attorneys Shannon Taylor, Wade Kizer and Howard Vick, all charges and indictments against Spanos must be dismissed.

Attorney Daniel inquired concerning whether the Commonwealth had copies of the document(s) that clearly had been removed from the official Henrico Circuit Court files for the Defendant and which documents by name appeared to be critical to the defense of the Defendant, the Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney did not know if the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney had copies or not.

Copies of the motions filed can be viewed at this link:         

Motion for Brady Material

Avoiding to "extradite an international fugitive" leads to corruption.

Three generations (19 years) of Henrico County Virginia Commonwealth Prosecutors covering up an Extradition for "International Fugitive" 

Grand jury indictments were issued against Nickolas G. Spanos in December 1998 and April 1999 for 13 counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Henrico County Commonwealth attorney Howard "Toby" Vick had stated in numerous media statements that Spanos was the hub of organization that distributed more than 600 kilos in the Richmond, Virginia area. Toby Vick alleged that Spanos customers were middle to upper-class businessmen, lawyers, doctors and other professionals, Spanos had operated the drug syndicate for over 10 years. Vick stated that Spanos fled to Greece before the indictments were issued and that the USA DEA has an office in Athens, Greece; Spanos will stand trial in Henrico county for the Grand Jury indictments, a bold statement by Henrico county C.A. Howard "Toby" Vick.
                               

      
Spanos responded back to Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Bill Wasson, "that Vick is going on a witch hunt", yes people were partying but not what it has been made out to be. Spanos challenged Vick by stating "I an just a bean in a bag of beans, a regular guy blending in the streets", basically telling Vick that there was no way he would bring him back. RTD reporter Bill Wasson asked if Spanos had dual citizenship, which Spanos replied yes and he would be going to the islands shortly. Also stating was that Vick's case was based on testimonies alone and that the main witness was his disgruntled jealous ex-gf that was lying and exaggerating for revenge, and that a brutal custody case led to all this.

From a non-biased view, certain questions rise, If Spanos was such a major cocaine dealer in the Richmond area for over 10 years, why couldn't the Henrico Police department catch him? Would there not be a money trail? 600 kilos of cocaine has a street value of over $18,000,000. (18 million USD.)

Toby Vick had brought in many members of his family for questioning, in which they had no idea of the alleged cocaine distribution, one sister asked Vick "where did all the money go?" Vick replied " he was buying a lot of drinks for people in the bars"

The Henrico narcotics police served 2 search warrants, one at Spanos home in Hanover county and another one at his mothers home in Henrico county, their main witness had given the information that was the location of drugs and money. No drugs or money was found but they did find Spanos's mothers stash of Greek coffee wrapped in aluminium foils sealed with plastic in the freezer.

A non-biased view would say that the Henrico C.A. main witness has led them on a wild story since she was the disgruntled, jealous ex that was in a hard custody battle with a good chance of losing custody. The Henrico C.A. Toby Vick probably did not mention in the multi-jurisdictional grand jury hearings that the ex had a history of mental illness and that she attempted suicide on Christmas day, leading to confinement at a psychiatric ward for a 48 hour suicide watch.

In the statements C.A. Toby Vick made to the media, no mention of the confiscation of drugs or money was mentioned, only that there were witnesses that testified that they bought cocaine from Spanos.

Henrico County C.A. Toby Vick had a Federal warrant of arrest for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution issued on December 14, 1998, 1 week after the Multi-jurisdictional Grand Jury issued the 13 indictments against Spanos (18 days after Spanos left for Greece)   

Despite having the Federal warrant issued, no request to the DOJ Office of International Affairs to have an Interpol Red Notice issued for Spanos and begin extradition procedures, which would have alerted the International law enforcement community to arrest Spanos.

C.A. Toby Vick did not even inform the U.S. State Department in order to cancel Spanos's USA passport, this would have made him "undocumented" and his deportation would have even been easier than an Extradition request.

The question might come up that Vick was an inexperienced prosecutor that did not know the procedures when a suspect becomes an "international fugitive", lets take a look at Henrico C.A. Howard Vick's resume:

Commonwealth's Attorney, Henrico County, Virginia; 
Head of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia’s Organized Crime-Drug Enforcement Task Force; 
Head of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida’s (Miami) Organized Crime-Drug Enforcement Task Force; 
Member of the DOJ’s Organized Crime Strike Force in New Orleans; 
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Arlington, Virginia 
Assistant Attorney General, Commonwealth of Virginia (Richmond), 

With a resume like this, Toby Vick could easily extradite someone like Spanos who was on limited funds in a foreign country with only a USA passport that would only give him 60 days visa in Greece.

The case against Spanos became stronger as three of his associates pleaded guilty to lesser charges and testified against Spanos as part of their plea bargains in April 1999.
Again no attempt was made by C.A. Toby Vick to have Spanos extradited from Greece, Europe or any other destination he might attempt to travel to.

The non-biased view might ask if Spanos was the "hub of a drug syndicate that distributed over 600 kilos of cocaine" , why Henrico C.A. Toby Vick not even make an attempt to take any legal action to extradite Spanos?

To go through a Multi-jurisdictional Grand Jury bringing in more that 15 witnesses to testify, also presenting evidence to a jury, thousands of police hours to investigate and interview witnesses, issuing subpoenas and other legal instruments is no small task. Toby Vick would have just had to cross the hall from his office, go to the Henrico county clerks office, have a capias issued and signed by a judge. Then send it to various agencies to have the necessary action taken to bring Spanos back, either by extradition or deportation, pretty simple maybe 1 hours worth of work?

The surprising point is that on July 06, 2001, the December 14, 1998 Federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was dismissed based on a government motion.

Coincidently, Henrico county CA Toby Vick resigned from his position with the Henrico County CA office on June 09, 2000 and joined the McGuire-Woods law firm, which was the law firm handling Spanos's late father’s estate, which Spanos was co-trustee with his mother. Toby Vick’s decision to join McGuire-Woods law firm did not happen overnight, he had planned this for quite a while, possibly before the 1998-99 grand jury hearings. 
http://www.richmond.com/city-life/news/article_511631a5-9b51-5583-b112-6b944498564b.html

The position will reunite him with former Virginia Attorney General Richard Cullen, who now heads up that team for the firm. Vick worked for Cullen before he was appointed Henrico Commonwealth's attorney when Cullen was U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

• Would there be some sort of conflict of interest if Spanos was to be returned and stand trial for the 13 Grand Jury indictments for drug charges? 

• Could it have shut the door on Toby Vick’s partnership with McGuire-Woods law firm? 

Howard Vick's partnership with McGuire Woods LLP. was his golden ticket. McGuire Woods LLP. is a U.S. law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 23 offices across the United States, Asia and Europe. The firm's largest offices are in Richmond, VA, Charlotte, NC, and Chicago, IL.. Very suspicious?

On September 10, 2006, Nickolas Spanos walks into the U.S. Embassy Athens and applies to renew his USA passport, 4 days later, he picks up his brand new USA Passport with no questions asked. His previous USA passport expired on June 14, 2003.

A non-biased view might ask, why isn't the most powerful embassy of the civilized world not putting out a wanted notice if this "international fugitive" might happen to visit the most secured embassy in the world?

On February 20, 2007, a Federal warrant was issued for Spanos arrest, the charge is Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution warrant which is a request by the state for federal assistance in apprehending someone who is charged with a felony and has crossed state lines or fled the country.

Again, Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Wade Kizer makes no attempt to have Spanos extradited or even cancel his newly acquired USA passport which is less than 7 months old and would expire 10 years later in 2016. In the February 20, 2007 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. 

A non-biased view would continue to ask the same questions, why wasn't one single attempt made to bring Spanos to justice? What was the Henrico C.A. office and now the federal law enforcement agencies waiting for? What or who was the Henrico C.A. office protecting?

Another five years pass and a situation which was brought in detail in our previous article, 
U.S. Embassy legal attaches tied to extortion and human trafficking., in which Spanos was arrested in the Philippines On October 18, 2012 and detained  for 19 months, USA DOJ, U.S.Embassy Manila legal attaches (FBI) and more importantly Henrico County C.A. Shannon Taylor never processed an extradition request. They kept the arrest hidden from the media until the Richmond Times Dispatch received a tip that a relative of Spanos had requested authenticated copies of the 1998-99 Multi-jurisdictional Grand Jury on February 28, 2013.

A Richmond Times Dispatch news article on March 01, 2013 published that Nickolas Spanos was found in the Philippines and detained by Philippine Immigration. 
http://www.richmond.com/news/alleged-coke-dealer-located-in-philippines-after-years-on-the/article_6e331ad0-599d-5d2b-b6c8-310144479dc1.html


Henrico County authorities and the FBI confirmed Thursday that Nickolas George Spanos, 48, is in the custody of Philippine authorities on separate, unresolved charges there, Henrico C.A. Shannon Taylor states "that it is not clear when the former seafood dealer could be returned to this country"

"Henrico County authorities and the FBI confirmed Thursday that Nickolas George Spanos, 48, is in the custody of Philippine authorities on separate, unresolved charges there."

"Vick said in an email Thursday that he was aware that Spanos had been arrested; he had predicted in 1999 that it would happen. “I'm fully confident that Nick Spanos will stand trial in Henrico Circuit Court,” Vick said then."

The fact is that Spanos's arrest by Philippine authorities was based on the request of Henrico County CA office and the U.S.Embassy Manila legal attaches, there was no other pending charges against Spanos.

On September 10, 2013, 11 months after Spanos arrest in the Philippines, the Henrico county Circuit court issues an arrest warrant for Spanos for the 1998-99 Grand jury indictments.

A non-biased view would question the delay in issuing a September 10, 2013 arrest warrant, 11 months after Spanos arrest in the Philippines. Why did C.A. Shannon Taylor hide the fact of Spanos arrest in the Philippines?

The Philippine DOJ made several requests to Henrico County CA office to send them authenticated copies of the 1998-99 Grand jury indictments and other important documents. Henrico county CA Shannon Taylor refused their request.

Despite numerous letters from the U.S. FBI to Philippines Immigration officials demanding Spanos's deportation to the USA, he was deported to Greece on June 01, 2014.

Upon Spanos's arrival in Athens, Greece on June 02, 2014, he was greeted by Greek national security officials, in which they presented an Interpol Red notice asking for his provisional arrest in order for the U.S. DOJ could process the request for extradition.

Nickolas Spanos aka Nikolaos Spanoudis was brought before a Greek DOJ Prosecutor and was presented with the attached documents to the Interpol Red notice, a Capias from Henrico county Circuit court showing a September 13, 2013 certified date, 15 years after the multi-jurisdictional grand jury had issued the 13 indictments.


Greek DOJ Prosecutor held Spanos under the 60 day provisional arrest article listed in most USA Extradition treaties. The USA DOJ Office of international Affairs has to submit the required documents as stipulated in the USA-Greece Extradition treaty. On July 30, 2014, the U.S. Embassy Athens submitted all the required documents to the Greek DOJ Prosecutor, Spanos was ordered to be detained until the September 23 2014 Extradition hearing. To view: USA DOJ Extradition request with supporting documents 

During his Extradition detention, Greek justice authorities charged Spanos with the 1998-99 Grand Jury indictments that the USA DOJ submitted. Under the USA-Greece Extradition treaty, Greece may prosecute a Greek national under Greek law if the Extradition is refused.

On September 24, 2014, a Greek Tribunal denied the USA Extradition request. No USA embassy official attended the trial nor did the USA embassy retain an attorney to present evidence on their behalf.

The Greek DOJ Prosecutors office informed the USA DOJ OIA and the USA Embassy Athens of the Greek tribunals decision and also of the Greek DOJ obligation to prosecute Spanos under Greek law, the Greek DOJ requested that any evidence that Henrico county C.A wanted to present, that they should to forward it to Greek Prosecutors. No evidence was ever sent or a reply by Henrico county C.A.

On March 27, 2015, A Greek Tribunal dismissed all 13 indictments against Spanos and ordered his release. The Greek DOJ notified the USA Embassy Athens and the USA DOJ OIA of the decision, the USA DOJ refused to file an appeal to the decision.
Below are the short decision of the Greek tribunal.

The main issue is why did Henrico county CA Shannon Taylor not attempt to process an extradition request in the Philippines, where she had the best chance to bring Spanos back to the USA to face the 13 indictments? 

Why did Shannon Taylor attempt an Extradition request from Greece, where she knew that Greece was Spanos's safe haven and that Greece does not extradite its own nationals?

The conclusion of all the facts is that the three generations of Henrico County Commonwealth Attorneys were making more efforts to keep fugitive Nickolas Spanos out of the United States than to extradite him and have him face the 13 Grand jury indictments. Only ex-Henrico CA Howard "Toby" Vick , Wade Kizer & Shannon Taylor know the answer to why..