
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 29, 1990                   TAG: 9006290783
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

FCC BARS LAW PRACTICE OF PILOT IN OCEAN CRASH

Thomas L. Root, the Alexandria lawyer who survived a bizarre ocean plane crash last summer, has been disbarred from practicing law before the Federal Communications Commission, officials said Thursday.

The action effectively ends Root's communications law practice as of July 6. He is awaiting sentencing Aug. 6 after pleading guilty to five felony counts of counterfeiting and forging federal documents, defrauding clients and lying to the FCC.

Root, who suffered an unexplained gunshot wound sometime before his small plane ditched into the Atlantic Ocean last July, had asked the FCC to allow him to practice until his sentencing so his clients would have time to transfer to another lawyer.

But the commission gave him from June 21 - the date of the order - to July 6 to notify his clients.

Root pleaded guilty June 5 to five felony counts of counterfeiting and forging federal documents, defrauding clients and lying to the FCC. He faces up to 35 years in prison and $1.2 million in fines.

- Associated Press

by CNB