Attorney Convicted of Perjury, Hiding Assets

A Tarzana attorney has been convicted of seven counts of lying under oath and concealing assets during bankruptcy proceedings, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Michael D. Freeman, 59, was accused of concealing a bank account and lying about ownership of a small airplane and other assets during the proceedings in 1994. He was found guilty after a 2 1/2-week trial.

Prosecutors said Freeman had claimed under oath after declaring bankruptcy that there was a $95,000 lien on his Cessna airplane. This prevented his creditors from collecting $120,000 that could have been generated by selling the airplane at its full value. But evidence was given in court that the lien did not exist.

Trial evidence also showed Freeman owned and operated a Cayman Islands auto rental company to which money from his law clients was diverted, the attorney’s office said. When investigators originally questioned him about the company, Freeman said he knew nothing about it.

Sentencing guidelines are contingent upon several factors, including the total dollar amount of the fraud, which has not been set, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Angela J. Davis.