Read Schertler Onorato Mead & Sears’ latest news.

Multi-Firm Trial Team Including Mark MacDougall and Paola Pinto Obtains Jury Acquittal of Cambodian Government Official in the Southern District of Florida


MARCH 2024

On March 22, 2024, Schertler Onorato Mead & Sears partner Mark MacDougall, along with Akin partner Stacey Mitchell and Maderal Byrne & Furst partner John Byrne, obtained a jury acquittal of Masphal Kry in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Kry, the Director of the Cambodian Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity, was charged with one count of conspiring with seven co-defendants to unlawfully import wild-caught long-tailed macaques into the United States and seven counts of smuggling wild-caught long-tailed macaques into the United States. The government voluntarily dismissed five smuggling counts at the close of its evidence, and the court granted the defense motion for judgment of acquittal on the sixth smuggling count. After a full day of deliberations, the jury acquitted Mr. Kry on the remaining conspiracy and smuggling charges.  Mr. MacDougall, Ms. Mitchell, and Mr. Byrne were assisted at trial by SOMS associate Paola Pinto and Akin associates Allison Coffin, Dakota Kann, Nicole Franklin, and Janie Mahan.

Recent News
  • OCTOBER 2024
  • Habib Ilahi and Tara Tighe Co-Author Article on False Claims Act
  • OCTOBER 2024
  • David Schertler and Noah Cherry Secure Post-Indictment Dismissal of Charges Against Client in the Western District of Texas
  • SEPTEMBER 2024
  • David Schertler Moderates Distinguished Panel on the Politicization of Criminal Justice at the Cosmos Club
  • SEPTEMBER 2024
  • Royal Kingdom of Cambodia Confers Order of Merit – Gold Class Medal on Mark MacDougall for Successful Trial Defense of Cambodian Government Official
  • SEPTEMBER 2024
  • Tara Tighe Wins for a Second Time in the Appellate Court of Maryland Over Award of Attorneys’ Fees and Costs to a Prevailing Party

EXPERIENCE. JUDGMENT. RESULTS.

To learn more about Schertler Onorato Mead & Sears