That's the sad trajectory of 62-year-old attorney Larry Bronson's professional career - his disgrace complete yesterday after pleading guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court to illegally structuring money transactions for a client, then begging the judge to release him from house arrest so he can earn some money driving a cab.
"I just want to be able to put some money on the table for my wife," Bronson said.
But prosecutor Roger Burlingham argued for keeping the defendant under electronic monitoring, expressing skepticism that the only work a lawyer could find would be driving a cab.
"You don't want him to go back and practice law, do you?" shot back Judge Nicholas Garaufis.
Bronson was indicted in 2005 on racketeering and money-laundering charges in which he was accused of using his status as an attorney to assist the Mafia and obstruct justice.
He allegedly hosted meetings in his lower Manhattan law office where Bonanno gangsters Louis (Louie HaHa) Attanasio and James (Big Louie) Tartaglione could secretly meet to discuss organized crime business in violation of court orders, according to court papers.
The government agreed to drop the racketeering charges in exchange for yesterday's guilty plea.
"Larry is very pleased that this nightmare is finally coming to an end, pursuant to a deal that is far fairer than were the original allegations against him," Bronson's lawyer, Lawrence Lustberg, said.
Bronson says he is struggling financially. He completed a real estate course, but the market slowdown has limited those prospects.
He told the judge that he has lined up a job with a car service that appears promising, if he could only get rid of his ankle bracelet.
The judge agreed to give Bronson a chance, as long as he would be working for a reputable car service approved by the government.
