Louis Robles, a once-prominent Miami plaintiffs attorney, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 41 federal counts of mail fraud and misappropriating $13.5 million in settlements from asbestos clients.
Robles, who was indicted Tuesday, was assigned Assistant Federal Public Defender Hector Flores to represent him at his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen T. Brown in Miami. Brown made the assignment after Robles said he was unable to come up with additional funds to pay his former attorney, Roy Black of Miami. It was disclosed in court that Robles already paid Black a $100,000 retainer.
