Sex, Drug Allegations Swirl Around Convicted Jet-Setting Attorney

Do you ever wish that you could run away from your BigLaw job for the life of a rockstar? Millions of dollars in income. A life of cocaine-fueled sex parties?

Perhaps the lesson of Tom Lakin will give you pause. It's the story of how not to be a power broker attorney. Tom Lakin was a successful Illinois personal injury lawyer. Now he is serving six years for a federal drug conviction. Lakin pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, distributing cocaine to a minor and for maintaining a drug house. State investigations are still going forward, as well as a civil suit against Lakin.

Lakin was originally accused of not only drug charges but also sex charges for allegedly transporting a minor across state lines intending to have sex. It's a fascinating case, that at least partially ended with U.S. District Judge J. Phil Gilbert absolutely hammering Lakin with notable quotes like:

"Maybe it was the seedier side of that Hollywood lifestyle of drugs, sex and the fear of getting old that was your downfall, as it has been to others who tried to live that way."

"You corrupted yourself. You couldn't handle the success and power you achieved, and absorbed yourself in your own self-importance and belief that you are above the law."

"But the crime here, and I mean it in every sense of the word, is that what you did and engaged in not only destroyed you, but also destroyed the innocence of your youthful victims and impacted their lives and the lives of their families forever."

So now Lakin is left with an order to pay over $650,000, serve six years and, most likely, forfeit his law license.

So the next time you want to give it all up and party like a rockstar? Consider Tom Lakin and perhaps think twice.

Related Resources:

• Lakin sex accusation still investigated, prosecutor says (Stltoday.com)
• Mann Act Text (FindLaw)
• 18 U.S.C. § 2423 : US Code - Section 2423: Transportation of minors (FindLaw)