CNBC’s ‘American Greed’ puts focus on Conour as appeal proceeds

Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com

The CNBC program “American Greed,” which bills itself as a “shocking true crime series (that) examines the dark side of the American Dream,” has taped an episode profiling former Indianapolis lawyer and convicted fraudster William Conour.

An airdate for the program has not been announced, but the network confirmed that the former leading personal-injury attorney who stole approximately $6.5 million  from more than 30 clients is being profiled in an upcoming show.

“Mr. Conour’s story is a perfect fit for ‘American Greed,’” said CNBC Executive Producer Charles Schaeffer. “He relied on his status and ability as a lawyer to be seen as a trusted friend when in reality he was a fierce predator and it cost his clients millions of dollars.”

Conour is appealing his 10-year federal wire fraud sentence before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The government on Dec. 31 responded to Conour’s appeal brief  and agreed that special conditions imposed on Conour after he serves his sentence should be modified, but the conditions largely should stay in place.

In response to Conour’s appeal petition, the U.S. Attorney agreed that a special release condition permitting suspicionless searches of Conour and his property should be vacated in light of 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rulings on that condition after Conour was sentenced in October 2013.

Likewise, the government’s appeal brief asserts that a condition that Conour not consume “excessive” amounts of alcohol should be restated to simply say he should consume no alcohol upon release, because he was diagnosed as an alcoholic and sought treatment. This also conforms with 7th Circuit holdings that the term is ambiguous.

Otherwise, the government says the conditions placed on Conour are just and that the 7th Circuit should affirm the sentence imposed by Chief Judge Richard Young of the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Indiana.