In The News

Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, Carvajal’s lawyer, denied the allegation against Carvajal. “The government is wrong: General Carvahal had nothing to do with corporate decisions at Citgo and never met Luis Marin until years later.”

“The prosecutors seem to allege in their motion papers that General Carvajal and an unnamed drug trafficker ‘arranged the rise’ of Luis Marin to CEO of Citgo in 2004, but one page later they refer to the same person becoming CEO after a meeting with drug traffickers in 2005. Either way, the government is wrong. General Carvajal had nothing to do with corporate decisions at Citgo and never met Luis Marin until years later.” 

“The rise in violence is completely separate from bail reform and blaming bail for the safety problems we have makes us less safe, because it makes us less likely to confront the actual causes of this increase in violence,” Tess Cohen.

Nearly 30 years after a jury found him guilty of the vicious murder of a young mother in the upstate New York town of Tonawanda, James Pugh’s murder conviction has been reversed. His attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma told the Associated Press that Mr. Pugh, is “no longer a convicted murderer and he can get on with his life.” The case involved allegations that the real killer was notorious Dannemora escapee Richard Matt — along with the detective whose ”investigation” led to Mr. Pugh’s false conviction. 

Erie County Supreme Court Justice Paul Wojtaszek has set aside the murder convictions of Brian Scott Lorenzo and James Pugh in the grisly 1993 slaying of Deborah Meindl, a 31-year-old mother of two in Tonawanda, New York. Mr. Pugh’s attorney, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, told the New York Times that Wednesday was a wonderful day for his client: “Jimmy can finally get on with his life without the weight of a false conviction hanging over his head. His story should inspire others to keep fighting for justice and strike fear in the hearts of corrupt police and prosecutors who think they can get away with framing innocent people.”

A day after his extradition from Spain, former Venezuelan spy leader and longtime adviser to the country’s late president Hugo Chávez pleaded not guilty in a New York courtroom to decade-old drug trafficking charges. Hugo Carvajal agreed during an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court to remain behind bars while his lawyers prepare a bail proposal to present to the judge. Outside court, his attorney Zachary Margulis, had plenty to say about his client: watch the video here.

Speaking outside the Southern District of New York courthouse, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, the attorney for retired General Hugo Carvajal, told reporters that his client is “categorically innocent” of narco-terrorism charges. Carvajal, 63, was extradited from Spain on Wednesday after more than ten years’ effort by U.S. prosecutors to bring him to New York to face charges.

Speaking outside court, ZMO Law principal attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma portrayed the U.S. prosecution of Gen. Hugo Carvajal as unlike any other, saying he had not been informed of any evidence such as text messages, emails, wiretapped conversations, prison-call recordings, surveillance video or physical evidence linked to his client. “General Carvajal looks forward to fighting these outrageous charges in court before an unbiased American jury,” he said.

A prominent Venezuelan leader close to the country’s late president Hugo Chávez was extradited to New York from Spain to face decade-old drug trafficking charges. Retired Maj. Gen. Hugo Carvajal will enter a not guilty plea at his initial appearance Thursday in Manhattan federal court, his lawyer, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma, told The Associated Press.

ZMO Law client Felipe Rodriguez, who recently won a $10 million dollar settlement from the City of New York, is continuing his fight for justice after wrongfully serving 27 years in prison. ABC Channel 7 recently highlighted Rodriguez’s lawsuit against two former Long Island Railroad detectives and interviewed Zachary Marguils-Ohnuma about the case. 

Principal attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma spoke with New York Law Journal about the defamation lawsuit against Fox News. “The factual finding of the summary judgment could have a preclusive effect,” he explained. “I would think you could march into a Manhattan court and say a Delaware court found this is nonsense, and a judge would find that persuasive if not collateral-estoppel preclusive.”

In an op-ed piece for the NY Daily News, ZMO Law attorney Tess Cohen discussed the newly proposed Treatment Not Jail Act. With experience as both an assistant district attorney and defense attorney, Cohen offers unique insight into the failings of our current systems, and how providing avenues for treatment and support are critical to reducing crime and improving lives.

In an exclusive Reuters article about Sam Bankman-Fried’s extradition, attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma provided his insight into the case’s possible future. 

State Supreme Court judge Diane J. Kiesel reluctantly dismissed murder charges against domestic abuse survivor Tracy McCarter, while criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, suggesting he gave in to political pressure. ZMO Law attorney, Tess Cohen, who worked on McCarter’s pro bono legal team, told the NY Times, “While I disagree with some of the reasoning in the decision, we are of course relieved that the case has been dismissed and that Ms. McCarter can begin to go on with her life.”

How did Tracy McCarter get her murder charges dismissed after fighting for nearly three years? Reuters takes you inside how the all-star pro bono legal team came together. ZMO Law attorney Tess Cohen, a former state prosecutor and trial lawyer, played a crucial role. 

The New York Times recently interviewed ZMO Law PLLC principal attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma and our client, Felipe Rodriguez, for their recent report on companies that offer cash advances to newly released people hoping for settlements after being wrongly incarcerated. These advances often exceed the normal interest cap of 25%, with most averaging 33% per year. Mr. Rodriguez shared that, upon release, a fellow exoneree gave him a phone number and a recommendation. “He said, ‘You’re exonerated now and you’re waiting on your lawsuit and you’re going to need a loan because you have nothing,’” Mr. Rodriguez, now 57, recalled. “I took it. I had no choice.”

The former chief of military intelligence for Venezuela, Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal, hires an American lawyer: “His name is Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma and he has led famous trials involving clients accused of gun possession, drug trafficking, fraud, child pornography, theft, terrorism, civil rights violations and other crimes.”

Activists rallied to demand the Manhattan District Attorney’s office drop the murder case against ZMO Law client Tracy McCarter. Frustrated supporters pointed to DA Alvin Bragg’s campaign promise to help domestic violence victims. “The lie being floated by the Manhattan DA office is that ‘they’ve done all they can do, they’ve offered a plea, they tried to drop the murder charge and it’s the judge that is making the situation difficult, not their office’ and we know that’s a lie,” said Samah Sisay, a member of Survived and Punished NY. Comedienne Amy Schumer also tweeted her support of Tracy. 

Principal attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma argued in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that our client was unfairly convicted of a 2009 homicide in federal court because his trial lawyer failed him “at every turn.” Listen to the complete audio recording here.