Latest news with #lawyer
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canadian who died in ICE custody lived a 'simple life,' his lawyer says
The Canadian man who died while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this week was a "very polite, quiet, unassuming man with a very simple life" who did not pose a danger to anyone, says the lawyer who represented him. Dan Leising represented Johnny Noviello, 49, who died in a detention centre in Florida on Monday. The cause of death is unknown and is under investigation, says an ICE news release. In 2023, Noviello was convicted of a number of offences — including racketeering and drug trafficking — and had been sentenced to 12 months in prison, according to the ICE release. But Leising says Noviello never actually went to state prison. Being sentenced to 364 days, he served time in county jail and was out on probation when he was arrested by ICE in May. Leising says Noviello had not violated the terms of his probation. LISTEN | As it Happens speaks with Noviello's lawyer: Leising described the charges against Noviello as "very, very serious." He said Noviello had worked as a cashier and did some janitorial work, and had no prior criminal record. "Is he violent or anybody that you'd be afraid of if you walked by them on the street? Absolutely not," said Leising. Leising says he stayed in contact with Noviello's family during his detention and after his death. The family once called Leising when they were unable to get in contact with Noviello during his detention. He said the family was concerned about Noviello getting the medication required to treat his epilepsy. Leising said he has no knowledge of Noviello's access to that medicine while in detention. Despite having Canadian citizenship, Noviello had been in the U.S. since 1988 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1991, the release says. Noviello was being detained by ICE "pending removal proceedings," the agency's news release said. In an interview with CBC's Power & Politics, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said consular officials had been in touch with Noviello as soon as they heard of his detention. "At this point we are also seeking additional information relating to the circumstances of his passing away, and I'd like to extend my condolences to his family," she said. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra posted a statement on social media saying his team is following the investigation into Noviello's death. "We will keep the Canadian government informed as ICE completes its investigation," he wrote in a post on X. Noviello's death comes as ICE agents are making sweeping arrests across the United States. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and the main architect of U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies, has pushed ICE to aim for at least 3,000 arrests a day, up from about 650 a day during the first five months of Trump's second term. Lawyer and policy analyst Richard Kurland says Noviello's criminal history means that he meets Trump's profile for priority removal. He says the president's focus on deporting criminals and "mass detention" comes with "great risk" to those in custody. "You do not enjoy the luxury of isolated cells," said Kurland. "You're going to have physical interactions between detainees." Noviello isn't the only Canadian to have been arrested in the U.S. since the ICE sweeps began. Global Affairs Canada told CBC News in a statement that it is aware of "several dozen cases of Canadians currently in immigration-related detention in the U.S." One Canadian, Jasmine Mooney from B.C., was arrested and held for nearly two weeks after trying to get a work visa renewed. She was released and returned to Canada in mid-March. WATCH | Canadian describes ICE detention: U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders, who represents Mooney, says he was surprised to hear of Noviello's death. "You don't see a lot of Canadians in immigration detention in the United States," he said. Saunders says the detention system is complex — detainees can't just say they want to be sent home. "They have to go through the formal deportation proceedings, they have to see an immigration judge," he said. Saunders says when Mooney was detained, one of her friends wanted to know how to speed up the process. His response was to go to the news. "That's the only reason I think Jasmine Mooney was released so quickly," he said. In the case of Noviello, Kurland says there's nothing Canada could have done to prevent his death. But he says Canada must try to negotiate an overall deal with the U.S. when it comes to the detention and deportation of its citizens — because the numbers of Canadians held by ICE will only grow. "We need to act now to create a special protocol just for Canadian detainees," he said. "That would relieve a lot of people in a bad situation."
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
Lawyer found guilty of 17 counts of misconduct: Law Society of Manitoba
A Manitoba lawyer has been found guilty of 17 counts of professional misconduct by the Law Society of Manitoba, with disciplinary measures to be decided at a later date. The decision dated June 20, 2025, found Paul Sydney Vyamucharo-Shawa breached the Law Society of Manitoba's Code of Professional Conduct following hearings that spanned eight months. A three-person panel found the 67-year-old sole practitioner guilty of offences such as breach of integrity, failure to treat the court with 'candour, courtesy and respect,' recording conversations with clients and other lawyers without their consent, and sending abusive or offensive correspondence. 'The panel cannot escape the very distinct impression that Mr. Vyamucharo-Shawa, to this day, lacks insight into the impact his behaviours and his words—spoken or written—have on others in the profession with whom he deals with on a daily basis,' reads part of the 78-page decision. The charges come after three citations were filed against him between 2022 and 2024, pertaining to a fee dispute with a former client, a real estate transaction and a litigation matter. Several of the charges pertain to letters he sent to a Court of King's Bench justice and the society, including asserting that the justice was 'continuing to hog and not doing the needful' and was engaging in 'needless improper interference with access to justice.' Vyamucharo-Shawa was previously suspended from practising law for six months in 2019 after pleading guilty to five counts of professional misconduct, according to files with the Law Society of Manitoba. In 2008, he also pled guilty to four charges of professional misconduct, and in 2000, he pled guilty to nine charges of professional misconduct—with multiple charges relating to misappropriation of nearly $20,000 from a trust account. In 1999, he accepted a formal caution for breaching a trust condition. The latest decision says the discipline committee administrator will be contacted to arrange a date for a hearing on sanctions.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer mocks sex trafficking case in closing, calls charges 'badly exaggerated', AP explains
Sean Diddy Combs' defense lawyer says the government "badly exaggerated" its evidence against the music mogul in a four-hour closing argument. (AP video by Joseph Frederick)
Fox News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Lauren Sanchez Just Revealed Her Dress… and Her New Name!
Lauren Sanchez gave fans a first look at her wedding dress and new Instagram name. Diddy's legal team wrapped up closing arguments. Vin Diesel's attorney is accused of getting physical with opposing counsel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit FOX News Radio
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canadian who died in ICE custody lived a 'simple life,' his lawyer says
The Canadian man who died while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this week was a "very polite, quiet, unassuming man with a very simple life" who did not pose a danger to anyone, says the lawyer who represented him. Dan Leising represented Johnny Noviello, 49, who died in a detention centre in Florida on Monday. The cause of death is unknown and is under investigation, says an ICE news release. In 2023, Noviello was convicted of a number of offences — including racketeering and drug trafficking — and had been sentenced to 12 months in prison, according to the ICE release. But Leising says Noviello never actually went to state prison. Being sentenced to 364 days, he served time in county jail and was out on probation when he was arrested by ICE in May. Leising said Noviello had not violated the terms of his probation. Leising described the charges against Noviello as "very, very serious." But he called Noviello an otherwise "unassuming man with a very simple life." He said Noviello had worked as a cashier and did some janitorial work, and had no prior criminal record. "Is he violent or anybody that you'd be afraid of if you walked by them on the street? Absolutely not," said Leising. Leising said he stayed in contact with Noviello's family during his detention and after his death. The family once called Leising when they were unable to get in contact with Noviello during his detention. He said the family was concerned about Noviello getting the medication required to treat his epilepsy. Leising says he has no knowledge of Noviello's access to that medicine while in detention. Despite having Canadian citizenship, Noviello had been in the U.S. since 1988 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1991, the release says. Noviello was being detained by ICE "pending removal proceedings," the agency's news release said. In an interview with CBC's Power & Politics, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said consular officials had been in touch with Noviello as soon as they heard of his detention. "At this point we are also seeking additional information relating to the circumstances of his passing away, and I'd like to extend my condolences to his family," she said. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra posted a statement on social media saying his team is following the investigation into Noviello's death. "We will keep the Canadian government informed as ICE completes its investigation," he wrote in a post on X. Noviello's death comes as ICE agents are making sweeping arrests across the United States. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and the main architect of U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies, has pushed ICE to aim for at least 3,000 arrests a day, up from about 650 a day during the first five months of Trump's second term. Lawyer and policy analyst Richard Kurland says Noviello's criminal history means that he meets Trump's profile for priority removal. He says the president's focus on deporting criminals and "mass detention" comes with "great risk" to those in custody. "You do not enjoy the luxury of isolated cells," said Kurland. "You're going to have physical interactions between detainees." Noviello isn't the only Canadian to have been arrested in the U.S. since the ICE sweeps began. Global Affairs Canada told CBC News in a statement that it is aware of "several dozen cases of Canadians currently in immigration-related detention in the U.S." One Canadian, Jasmine Mooney from B.C., was arrested and held for nearly two weeks after trying to get a work visa renewed. She was released and returned to Canada in mid-March. WATCH | Canadian describes ICE detention: U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders, who represents Mooney, says he was surprised to hear of Noviello's death. "You don't see a lot of Canadians in immigration detention in the United States," he said. Saunders says the detention system is complex — detainees can't just say they want to be sent home. "They have to go through the formal deportation proceedings, they have to see an immigration judge," he said. Saunders says when Mooney was detained, one of her friends wanted to know how to speed up the process. His response was to go to the news. "That's the only reason I think Jasmine Mooney was released so quickly," he said. In the case of Noviello, Kurland says there's nothing Canada could have done to prevent his death. But he says Canada must try to negotiate an overall deal with the U.S. when it comes to the detention and deportation of its citizens — because the numbers of Canadians held by ICE will only grow. "We need to act now to create a special protocol just for Canadian detainees," he said. "That would relieve a lot of people in a bad situation."
