BALTIMORE — Stephen L. Snyder, a prominent medical malpractice attorney from Baltimore, was found guilty by a federal jury of attempted extortion and seven counts of violating the Travel Act in connection with a $25 million scheme targeting the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), federal prosecutors announced Friday.
According to evidence presented during the nine-day trial, Snyder attempted to extort UMMS between January and September 2018 while representing two medical malpractice claimants alleging injuries from organ transplants performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Snyder demanded $25 million for himself, separate from any client settlements, threatening to damage the reputation of UMMC’s transplant department if the payment was not made.
Snyder’s threats included launching a public relations campaign accusing UMMC of misleading patients into receiving diseased organs. He planned to publish a front-page ad in The Baltimore Sun, hold a press conference, and create online advertisements that would redirect search results for UMMC’s transplant program to his law firm’s website. He also created commercials accusing UMMC of prioritizing “profits over safety,” which he played during meetings with UMMS attorneys.
Snyder proposed disguising the payment through a sham consulting agreement. His demands and threats were documented in recorded meetings and phone calls, including an August 23, 2018, meeting captured by federal law enforcement using hidden cameras.
Snyder faces up to 20 years in prison for the Hobbs Act extortion charge and up to five years for each Travel Act violation. Sentencing is scheduled for February 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before a federal district court judge.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the FBI for their investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Evelyn L. Cusson for prosecuting the case.
Snyder’s conviction highlights federal efforts to hold individuals accountable for using extortion and intimidation to enrich themselves at the expense of institutions and public trust.