A criminal court motion filed on December 4 has accused New Orleans defense attorney Tanzanika Ruffin of defrauding her client, Kai Hansen, and his family out of at least $250,000. According to court documents, a New York family made several payments to Ruffin, which included $66,000 in April, nearly $13,000 in June, $90,000 in September, and over $100,000 in October. Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, highlighted the significant sum involved, stating, “You’re looking at a sizable sum of money.”
The allegations are part of a plea deal clarification in Hansen’s case, wherein prosecutors from the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office have asserted that payments made to Ruffin were for non-existent legal matters. Goyeneche emphasized the gravity of the violation, noting, “There probably is not a greater violation of that trust than attorney-client privilege.”
Hansen was arrested earlier this year, accused of battering a police officer on Bourbon Street in March. Following his arrest, Hansen’s family enlisted Ruffin to handle his case. Initially, Hansen’s bond was set at $8,000, but Ruffin purportedly requested $66,000 in bond money, subsequently receiving an extra $12,500 for what she claimed was an additional criminal charge. However, the District Attorney’s Office clarified that Hansen was never faced with that charge.
In a troubling twist, Hansen’s family alleges that Ruffin claimed a restitution of $250,000 was required to settle his case, a notion the District Attorney’s Office refutes. When the family sought clarification regarding this amount, Ruffin allegedly indicated it was actually a settlement, which prosecutors argue was a fabrication.
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“These actions give the legal profession a black eye,” Goyeneche stated. The commission has previously investigated Ruffin; in a 2004 case, she was suspended from practicing law for 30 days after the bar association found she had threatened to arrest someone over non-payment for unfinished work by a handyman.
With the current allegations, Goyeneche expressed shock, noting the serious implications this case portends. Legal analyst Joe Raspanti commented that Ruffin may soon face criminal charges and disciplinary actions from the Louisiana state bar, stating, “She’s got a lot of problems if this is correct.”
As scrutiny intensifies, Ruffin and her representatives have chosen to refrain from commenting on the allegations at this time.
