St. Paul attorney guilty of laundering drug money through law firm

A St. Paul attorney has been found guilty of conspiring with his brother-in-law, a marijuana dealer based in southern Minnesota, to launder proceeds from drug sales through his law firm.

Robert D. Boedigheimer, 51, of Stillwater, was indicted in December on three counts — conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering and making a false statement to an IRS agent. He was found guilty this week after a trial in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.

According to the indictment:

Boedigheimer conspired with Brandon Lusk, his brother-in-law, to launder proceeds from drug sales.

Lusk lent cash to Boedigheimer, then repeatedly refinanced the loan, giving cash back to Boedigheimer. Boedigheimer also created a phony consulting position for Lusk at his law firm. Lusk would give cash from drug deals to Boedigheimer, who in turn issued a payroll check to Lusk for about 80 percent of those proceeds. Boedigheimer was indicted on charges of lying to an IRS agent about Lusk's employment.

"This case needed to be prosecuted because as a practicing lawyer, the defendant abused the trust that society places on the practice of law by laundering drug money through his law firm and obstructing a federal investigation," said Steven Schleicher, assistant U.S. attorney. Boedigheimer will be sentenced at a later date.

Lusk pleaded guilty in October 2011 to one count of conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is to be sentenced in August.

One of Lusk's drug-dealing conspirators, Richard A. Kay, 39, of Zumbro Falls, Minn., was sentenced last week to 16½ years in prison for conspiring to distribute marijuana, money laundering and transporting stolen gemstones. He was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine and $300,000 in restitution to Sterling Jewelers.

Lusk joined the drug dealing conspiracy in 2005, documents say. Three others who were involved also have been sentenced or pleaded guilty: Jamie A. Davidson, 40, was sentenced to five years on one count of conspiracy; Shawn R. Milliken, 32, was sentenced to about four years on one count of conspiracy, and Jason R. Meek, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. All are from Rochester.

Jim Anderson • 651-925-5039