Roy Black, one of America’s most recognized and controversial criminal defense attorneys, died Monday at his home in Coral Gables, Florida, at the age of 80, following an undisclosed illness.
The news was confirmed by his longtime law partner Howard Srebnick, who praised Black as a towering figure in the legal world.
“Roy Black was the greatest criminal lawyer of our generation, perhaps in American history,” Srebnick told The Miami Herald.
“The losses I feel personally and professionally are immeasurable.”The Lawyer Behind Epstein’s 2008 Plea Deal
Black gained national attention for representing financier Jeffrey Epstein, negotiating the 2008 plea agreement that allowed Epstein to avoid federal sex trafficking charges by pleading guilty to state-level prostitution charges involving minors.
Epstein served just 13 months of an 18-month sentence—during which he received work release privileges—a deal that would later be fiercely criticized and scrutinized by the public and members of Congress.
Two of Epstein’s accusers later sued, saying the plea deal was made without their knowledge or consent, violating federal law. Black, in court filings, denied any wrongdoing,
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