Corbin wants to fire attorneys in tax evasion case

A federal judge is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday to determine if former Nassau County Legis. Roger Corbin can fire his attorneys on his tax evasion case.

Corbin, who is facing sentencing in April after pleading guilty to filing false tax returns, income-tax evasion and lying to a federal agent, sent a letter to his defense attorney Thomas Liotti on Tuesday saying he was firing him and co-counsel Jennifer McCann, according to records in the federal court in Central Islip.

"Suffice it to say, I am more than dissatisfied with your representation," Corbin, of Westbury, wrote in the letter.

A person cannot discharge his attorney in federal court without the permission of the federal judge presiding over the case.

Late Wednesday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Sandra Feuerstein set a hearing on the matter for 1 p.m. Thursday.

Corbin pleaded guilty to the charges in January and is scheduled to be sentenced in April. He faces 12 to 18 months in prison under suggested federal sentencing guidelines.

Corbin did not give a reason for his attempt to fire Liotti and McCann.

Corbin's wife, Regina, who answered the phone at the couple's home last night, said her husband was not immediately available and declined to comment.

In a written statement, Liotti and McCann offered no objection to being relieved by Feuerstein of representing Corbin.

"We represented Roger to the best of our abilities and have no regrets. . . . We sincerely wish the Corbin family all good wishes and a successful outcome to the nightmare which they have too long endured," the statement said.