Man Imprisoned On Phony Lawyer Charges Wants Check

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Minnesota man convicted in North Dakota for impersonating a lawyer says the government owes him nearly $24,000 for property that was sold.

Howard O. Kieffer is serving a sentence of more than four years in prison after a jury in 2010 found him guilty on charges of mail fraud and false statements. Authorities say he lied on his application to practice law in federal court and worked on federal cases in at least 10 states.

The Duluth, Minn., man claims in a motion filed Thursday that the money represents exempt proceeds from the sale of homestead real estate, and says he has the right to claim it within one year. He has requested a hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Chase had no comment on the motion.

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