Miell files motion to fire another attorney

Cedar Rapids landlord Robert Miell, who was convicted of tax and mail fraud last year, wants to fire another attorney.

Miell, 55, filed a motion this week in U.S. District Court to dismiss his Des Moines attorney, Alfredo Parrish, who took over his case in November, due to ineffective assistance of counsel. Parrish is the tenth lawyer involved in Miell's case since 2008.

Miell pleaded guilty in federal court to 18 counts of mail fraud and two counts of perjury, and was convicted of two counts of tax fraud by a federal jury in January 2009. The charges stem from Miell fraudulently reporting more than $336,000 in storm damage on 145 properties to American Family Insurance.

His sentencing hearing was continued from last September to June 7, but a few months ago Miell filed a motion to withdraw his guilty pleas. A hearing was held on the motion in March, and Judge Mark Bennett said he will issue a written ruling sometime in May.

In the motion filed this week, Miell claims Parrish refused to let him testify by intimidating him about his mother. He also claims Parrish failed to enter Miell's evidence and witnesses at the March hearing.

Miell also claims he didn't know about the hearing until the March hearing until the day before it occurred, that Parrish hasn't return 50 phone calls from Miell since the hearing and that Parrish tried to make Miell accept a plea deal offered by the government.

A hearing on the motion is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

Miell remains in the Iowa County Jail.