U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron | U.S. Department of Justice
On November 22, 2024, a federal jury in Baltimore found attorney Stephen L. Snyder guilty of attempted extortion and seven counts under the Travel Act. This verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI's Baltimore Field Office.
The trial evidence revealed that Snyder represented two clients alleging injury from organ transplants at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). One client had received a kidney transplant. Between January and September 2018, Snyder sought $25 million from the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), threatening to "destroy" UMMC's transplant department if his demands were not met.
Snyder threatened to launch a public relations campaign accusing UMMC of deceiving patients into accepting diseased organs unless he received payment separate from any settlement with his clients. His threats included running an ad in the Baltimore Sun, holding a press conference, and creating internet ads linking searches for UMMC’s transplant program to his law firm's website. Additionally, Snyder prepared commercials accusing UMMC of prioritizing "profits over safety," which he showed during meetings with UMMS attorneys. He proposed a sham consulting agreement as cover for the payment.
The extortion attempts occurred through meetings and phone calls in 2018; one meeting on August 23 was recorded by federal agents using hidden cameras.
Snyder could face up to 20 years for violating the Hobbs Act and up to five years per Travel Act violation. Federal sentences often fall short of maximum penalties; they will be determined by a judge considering sentencing guidelines and statutory factors. Sentencing is set for February 25, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Barron praised the FBI's investigative efforts and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Evelyn L. Cusson for prosecuting the case.
For further details on initiatives by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit their website.
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