U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Stephen L. Snyder, a 77-year-old attorney from Baltimore, to three years of probation with six months of home confinement. The sentencing follows Snyder's conviction for one count of attempted extortion and seven counts under the Travel Act. The verdict was delivered by a federal jury on November 22, 2024, after a nine-day trial.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Baltimore Field Office.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Snyder, a medical malpractice attorney, represented two clients who allegedly suffered injuries due to organ transplants at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Between January and September 2018, Snyder sought to extort $25 million from the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). He threatened to "destroy" the UMMC transplant department unless he received the money personally, apart from any settlement with his clients.
Snyder threatened to initiate a public-relations campaign falsely accusing the UMMC of deceiving patients into accepting diseased organs. His planned actions included running a front-page ad in The Baltimore Sun, holding a press conference, and creating an internet ad that would lead anyone searching for the UMMC transplant program to his law firm's website. He also threatened to produce commercials alleging that UMMC prioritized "profits over safety," which he played during meetings with UMMS attorneys. Snyder suggested establishing a fictitious consulting agreement to disguise the $25 million payment.
Snyder's demands were made through various meetings and phone calls with UMMS attorneys in 2018. One significant meeting, held on August 23, 2018, was covertly recorded by federal law enforcement using hidden cameras.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the FBI's investigative work and extended thanks to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Evelyn L. Cusson for prosecuting the case.
More information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, including its priorities and community resources, can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
