Indictment: Infamous Attorney on Wrong Side of the Law

Editor's Note: This article was posted by Daniel DeBlasio and written by Paul Singley. 

A local defense attorney known for his own troubles with the law has been indicted for laundering drug money, federal authorities announced Monday. 

Longtime former Southbury resident Ralph Crozier, 61, a criminal and divorce attorney, who now lives in Oxford and practices in Seymour, is accused of convincing a client to invest $30,000 in a solar energy company, although he knew that the client's cash was derived from his client's narcotics trafficking activities, according to a news release from Deidre M. Daly, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and John J. Arvanitis, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New England.

As alleged in court documents, prior to September 2011, Crozier was arrested at his office on April 11, 2013, after he allegedly accepted an additional $11,000 in purported drug proceeds to invest on behalf of his client, the news release states.

The indictment, which was returned on June 11, 2013, charges Crozier with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and one count of attempt to launder monetary instruments. Each charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

Crozier is currently released on a $200,000 bond.

Crozier, who refers to himself as a "maverick" on his own web page, has practiced law for almost 40 years, representing many clients charged in high profile cases, including gang-related activities and murders. He has long been viewed by many as a brilliant trial attorney with a knack for working juries with his affable demeanor and theatrical courtroom performances. But on the other hand, his out-of-court troubles have garnered him a less than favorable reputation with many locally and beyond. 

He has been convicted with crimes related to domestic violence and drunken driving, for which he was sentenced to six months in prison. 

He has also temporarily lost his law license three times between 2005 and 2010, the last time was after clients claimed he did not adequately represent them but took their money, according to the Republican-American of Waterbury. 

He also was embroiled in controversy at the end of 2006 in a story that made national news: Crozier was accused by a 24-year-old female judicial marshal at Waterbury Superior Court with making unwanted sexual advances when he attempted to kiss her. He claimed he was simply giving the woman a friendly kiss on the cheek for Christmas. He was fined for that incident. 

Two years ago, Crozier was the defense attorney in a local case that had emotions running high in Oxford. He represented Vicki Tkacz of Oxford, a woman who was frequently in trouble with local animal control officials and whose Newfoundland dogs attacked and killed a nonviolent Labrador Retriever named Roxy at Jackson Cove. Crozier then began a relationship with Tkacz and moved in with her in Oxford.   

Acting U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, which includes the Connecticut State Police and the Stratford, Stamford, Bridgeport, Norwalk and Westport Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rahul Kale.