Joseph Burton

In a dramatic turn of events, one of the offshore industry's most notorious businessmen, Jerome Schneider, appears set to plead guilty to one or more criminal charges against him in the United States. Schneider, who is out on bail, previously pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud at the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Offshore promoter Jerome Schneider has a new attorney to handle his defense against criminal fraud charges after his previous one resigned over allegedly unpaid legal fees totaling $350,000. Permission for Joseph M. Burton, of Duane Morris law firm, to withdraw as Schneider's counsel was granted on December 12, 2003 at the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of California.