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Eichholz pleads guilty to obstruction of justice
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    Savannah attorney Benjamin Eichholz pleaded guilty Tuesday to obstruction of justice, one count in a 77-count indictment alleging he embezzled over $950,000 from employee and pension retirement plans.
    Eichholz, 58, is charged with taking the money between 2001 and 2008, said Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The 77- count indictment against Eichholz ,returned by a Federal Grand Jury in August, stated  Eichholz embezzled  the money from two employee pension and retirement plans at the Eichholz Law Firm.
    The indictment also stated Eichholz filed false documents with the United States Department of Labor relating to the pension and retirement plans; and then, as part of an effort to cover up his embezzlement, “knowingly provided false information and committed other acts of obstruction during a Department of Labor investigation,” Tarver said.  
    In an United States District Court hearing Tuesday,  before Chief  District Judge William T. Moore, Jr.,   Eichholz pleaded guilty only to count fifty-five of the indictment; obstruction of justice in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1505.  
    Tarver said evidence showed  “Eichholz knowingly made false statements about what he was doing with the money invested in the two plans, all in an effort to obstruct the Department of Labor investigation.”
    The Labor Department investigation began in Feb. 2007 “to determine whether Eichholz was embezzling from the plans and using the plans’ assets for his own interests.  
    Eichholz faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years imprisonment; a fine of $250,000; and three years of supervised release. In addition, as part of his plea agreement, he will be required to make restitution to certain participants in the Eichholz Law Firm pension and retirement plans.
    Eichholz remains free on bond pending sentencing.  A sentencing date will be scheduled following completion of a presentence investigation and report by the United States Probation Office, Tarver said.


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