A Toano man pleaded guilty in a federal court Tuesday to extorting an attorney that previously represented him in a criminal case.
Christopher J. Burruss, 37, was found guilty of eluding police and driving under the influence in New Kent County in November 2010. Court records show he was sentenced to four years and 90 days in prison.
He returned to court two years later, claiming his attorney had mishandled his case, according to a Department of Justice news release.
The Virginia Circuit Court ruling over the case rejected his challenge, and Burruss appealed the rejection, the release said.
In a complaint filed against the attorney as part of his appeal in September 2013, Burruss stated the attorney had “inappropriate communications” and conversations with a friend of his and another woman leading up to and after his November 2010 conviction.
Burruss included “several embarrassing email and text messages” between the attorney, Burruss’ friend and two other women in the complaint, according to the release.
Those messages led Burruss to begin correspondence with the attorney directly and through his friend Jan. 23, demanding he write an affidavit admitting to mishandling the New Kent County case and pay almost $20,000 of Burruss’ legal fees to avoid revealing the embarrassing messages to the press.
“They are not yet public record, however Chris [Burruss] intends to move forward on Monday afternoon,” Burruss’ friend wrote to the attorney Jan. 24. “As far as the Bar is concerned we all know they would prefer to keep all of this very quiet.”
The attorney reported the messages of extortion to the authorities, and an investigation by the FBI’s Richmond office ensued, the release said.
Burruss pleaded guilty Tuesday to interstate threat to injure the reputation of another and faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
He will be sentenced Jan. 21 by a U.S. District Court judge.
