Michael is a Partner in the Columbus office and is an experienced criminal and civil litigator with a deep understanding of federal criminal investigations, prosecutions, appellate, and forfeiture actions from his nearly 18 years of federal prosecutor experience. From his extensive prosecutorial and investigative experience, Michael’s practice focuses on sensitive criminal matters, government and corporate internal investigations, state and federal regulatory and enforcement actions, and courtroom litigation.

Immediately prior to joining Flannery | Georgalis, Michael was a Deputy Criminal Chief and Assistant U.S. Attorney in Southern District of Ohio, serving in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, as well as the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for more than 15 years. In these roles, Michael directed task force investigations of joint federal and state task forces involving the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Postal Service, and well as state and county agencies such as the Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. Michael’s vast federal experience includes securing more than 500 criminal indictments and 750 felony convictions for the United States, while successfully trying more than 25 jury trials and litigating dozens of appeals before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Michael uses his in-depth knowledge of the federal and state investigative process and his courtroom and litigation acumen to help his clients navigate various criminal, appellate, and enforcement matters before federal and state courts, as well as investigative agencies.

Michael also served for two years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, gaining valuable investigative and trial experience as a grand jury and violent crimes prosecutor from 2006-2008, and was a law clerk for the Hon. John R. Fisher on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals from 2005-2006. While attending law school in Cleveland, Ohio, Michael served as a law clerk and then associate for the criminal and civil defense firm of Schwartz, Kushner & Rendon from 2002-2004, and then joined the Capitol Hill office as a Legislative Aid for then Congressman, later U.S. Senator, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Before attending law school, Michael served on active duty for eight years as a U.S. Air Force security policeman and criminal investigator, including serving in Operation Desert Storm.  Michael has received several awards for his military service, including two Air Force Commendation Medals, an Air Force Achievement Medal and a Joint-Service Achievement Medal.

Education

Cleveland Marshall College of Law (J.D., 2003)
Ohio State University (B.A., Criminology, 1999)

Admissions

Ohio
Northern District of Ohio
Southern District of Ohio
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Government Service

Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio (2008-2024)
Deputy Criminal Chief, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (2015-2019)
Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, Southern District of Ohio (2010-2012)
Assistant United States Attorney, District of Columbia (2006-2008)
United States Air Force, Security Policeman and Criminal Investigator (1990-1998)

Professional Memberships

Columbus Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys

Presentations/Publications

Faculty Member/Instructor Basic Trial Advocacy Course at the National Advocacy Center, presentations on opening statements and direct examination at trial, Columbia, South Carolina (2012-2024)
Presentation: Prosecuting Heroin and Opioid Overdose Cases at National Advocacy Center, Columbia, South Carolina (2018-2019)
Presentation: Making a Federal Case of It: Utilizing Federal Statutes to Target Local Offenders, Fairfield County, Madison County, and Richland Country (2018)
Presentation: Legal Issues Related to Confidential Informants, Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy, Columbus (2017)
Presentation: Federal Task Force Investigations, Ohio Attorney General’s Conference, Columbus (2017)
Podcast Appearance: Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, I Am The Law, series (2017)
Law Review Article: The Man on the Stairs Who Wasn’t There: What Does a Defendant’s Pre-Arrest Silence Have to Do With Miranda, the Fifth Amendment, or Due Process? – 28 HAMLINE L. REV. 277 (2005)