The third attorney to represent a Rindge man at the center of a $28 million Ponzi scheme has motioned to withdraw from the case, according to court documents.
Michael J. Connolly, who has represented Aaron E. Olson since February, filed a motion to withdraw on May 5, with a court hearing scheduled Thursday for the court to rule on the motion.
“The attorney-client relationship between undersigned counsel and the defendant has broken down due to irreconcilable differences,” said Connolly in his motion. “Additionally, the defendant has failed to abide by the terms of the undersigned’s engagement.”
Olson was sentenced on April 1, 2016, to five years in federal prison, with an additional three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to four counts of tax fraud. Olson was also ordered to pay a $400 special assessment.
During the hearing, the court will ask Olson whether he objects to Connolly’s motion to withdraw, and whether he intends to hire new counsel, seek court appointed counsel, or represent himself at his restitution hearing.
Olson’s restitution hearing is scheduled for May 26, which is still on at this time, according to court documents.
Olson is presently on the books to pay back more than $13 million to defrauded investors, according to prosecuting attorney Mark Zuckerman.
Court documents say that a restitution schedule has been completed by the state, but not shared with the defense in light of Connolly’s motion.
Connolly is the third attorney who has motioned to withdraw from Olson’s case. Kevin E. Sharkey officially withdrew on Feb. 11, 2016, and Robert S. Carey officially withdrew on Oct. 27, 2014.
No reason was given for Carey’s withdrawal, but Sharkey cited “irreconcilable differences.”
Olson had offices in Jaffrey and Rindge, and was convicted of mixing his investor’s money with his own accounts. Olson had spent $2.6 million for his own use, defrauding investors out of $27.8 million.
Olson is currently serving out his prison sentence in FMC Devens Correctional Institute.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com.
He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.