Taft Compliance, Investigations, and White-Collar Defense partner Nancy DePodesta, along with co-counsel Gabrielle Sansonetti, secured an acquittal for client Robert Mitziga in a verdict announced on Aug. 6. Mitziga was charged with bribing officials at the Cook County Assessor’s Office with free rounds of golf in exchange for lowered property assessments. Defense counsel argued that Mitziga was longtime friends with one of the officials and treated him to golf based on friendship, as was common etiquette amongst golf friends. There was no promise or expectation of a guaranteed lowered assessment in exchange.

On Aug. 6, jurors found Mitziga not guilty of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. DePodesta and Sansonetti commented in a statement that “the criminal justice system worked today, and we were proud to be part of it.” To read more, visit here.

DePodesta is a former federal prosecutor and highly regarded white-collar defense attorney and trial lawyer. She regularly defends clients in investigations conducted by the Department of Justice and other federal law enforcement and governmental agencies.