Steven A. Haney: Prominent Criminal Defense Attorney

 

Steven A. Haney is a distinguished criminal defense attorney and founder of the Haney Law Group, recognized as one of Michigan's premier trial lawyers. With over two decades of legal experience, Haney has established himself as a formidable advocate in both state and federal courts, earning national attention for his representation of high-profile clients and his featured role in HBO's acclaimed documentary "The Scheme."

 

Early Career and Prosecutorial Background
 

Haney began his legal career on the other side of the courtroom as a prosecutor, serving as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and later as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan. During his prosecutorial tenure, he achieved remarkable success, winning 78 consecutive felony jury trials—a testament to his exceptional courtroom skills and legal acumen. As a prosecutor, Haney specialized in felony drug cases and led a Special Prosecutorial Unit for the Michigan Attorney General's Office. In 2005, he spearheaded one of the largest organized crime cases in Michigan history, securing numerous criminal convictions and demonstrating his ability to handle complex, high-stakes litigation.

 

 

Transition to Defense and Notable Achievements

 

Transitioning from prosecution to defense, Haney has successfully tried over 250 jury trials across various jurisdictions throughout the United States. His extensive trial experience spans both state and federal courts, where he has consistently demonstrated his prowess as a fierce litigator and strategic advocate.

 

 

High-Profile Criminal Defense Work
 

Haney's reputation extends far beyond Michigan's borders. He has represented numerous high-profile clients, including NBA players and basketball legends. His client roster has included Hall of Fame players Magic Johnson and Dominique Wilkins, as well as current NBA stars such as Malik Beasley, Fred VanVleet, Richaun Holmes, and rising talent Scoot Henderson. In a landmark case for Magic Johnson, Haney orchestrated the basketball legend's 1999 comeback with the Swedish professional team Magic M7, serving not only as legal counsel but also as the team's General Manager. He has also represented former NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson.
 

 

The Christian Dawkins Case and "The Scheme"

 

Haney gained national prominence for his representation of Christian Dawkins in what ESPN characterized as the "biggest trial in the history of sports." The case, prosecuted in the Southern District of New York, involved federal charges related to college basketball corruption and alleged wire fraud schemes. In this high-stakes federal trial, Haney successfully secured acquittals on four of six felony charges against Dawkins, including all charges of honest services fraud and conspiracy. Notably, Dawkins was found not guilty on all wire fraud charges before a Manhattan jury. The month-long trial was historic as the first time a sports agent professional was federally charged and subsequently acquitted of wire fraud. The case and Haney's defense strategy were prominently featured in HBO's 2020 documentary "The Scheme," which provided an unprecedented look into the FBI's investigation of college basketball corruption. Haney explained in the documentary that Dawkins "wanted to go down with his place in history as a guy that had an
opportunity, really, to throw the world under the bus in college basketball and the community and he chose not to," highlighting his client's decision not to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for a lighter sentence.
 

 

Dismissal of Felony Gun Charges Against Phenom Basketball Star Emoni Bates
 

Haney again gained national acclaim and was featured in all major national news outlets, including the NY Times, ESPN and Forbes Magazine, for his successful representation of current Cleveland Cavalier NBA player Emoni Bates. Bates, arrested during a routine traffic stop, was charged, arrested and jailed on multiple felony gun charges, and his career was presumably derailed. Haney was able to secure a dismissal on all charges against Bates, allowing him to return to the basketball floor within weeks, culminating months later with being selected in the NBA draft.

 

 

Dismissal of Felony Gun Charges Against NBA Star Malik Beasley
 

Within weeks of signing a $60m contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, starting shooting guard Malik Beasley was charged with multiple felony gun and drug charges in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Haney represented Beasley, secured a dismissal of all drug charges and a reduction of gun charges, which allowed Beasley to avoid jail time, serve house arrest at the conclusion of the NBA season, and continue to play on the record setting contract.
 

 

Dismissal of Federal Wire Fraud Charges Against Attorney Brent Sitto
 

In 2023, after Detroit based Attorney Brent Sitto was charged by the United States Attorney’s Office for Wire Fraud, he hired Attorney Steve Haney. After several months of evidentiary hearings and challenges, principally argued by Haney, the United States Attorneys Office from Washington DC, dismissed all charges against Sitto the week before trial, yet proceeded against his Co-Defendants, who all were convicted before a Federal jury.
 

 

Farooq Zaya Jury Trial Acquittal On All Felony Counts
 

In a well-publicized shooting incident, Haney refused to accept plea bargains for his client Farooq Zaya. After a two-week long trial, with multiple witnesses, Michigan State Police Officers and Forensic DNA experts from the Michigan State Police crime lab, the jury acquitted Zaya on all nine (9) felony charges and he was completely exonerated, avoiding up to 50 years in prison and deportation.
 

 

Legal Credentials and Jurisdictions
 

Haney is licensed to practice law in multiple jurisdictions, including:
● State of Michigan
● State of Arizona
● Federal Courts in the United States Eastern District
● Southern District of New York
● 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals of New York
● South Carolina Federal Court
 

 

Areas of Practice

 

The Haney Law Group offers comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas:

• Criminal Defense: Specializing in high-profile criminal cases, federal prosecutions, and complex litigation

• Sports and Entertainment Law: Representing professional athletes and entertainment industry clients

• Personal Injury: Advocating for clients in serious injury cases Insurance Litigation: Handling claim denials and disputes with major insurance companies

• Civil Rights: Addressing police misconduct and constitutional violations

• Intellectual Property and Copyright Law: Protecting clients' creative and business interests

 

 

Recent Notable Achievements
 

Record-Breaking Contracts
In June 2022, Haney negotiated what was described as the largest shoe contract in basketball history for a non-draft eligible player, securing a multi-year, multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Puma for client Scoot Henderson. The groundbreaking agreement was unprecedented in scope for a player of Henderson's status.
Major Case Victories
Throughout his career, Haney has secured numerous significant victories, including:
● Full dismissal of a high-profile racketeering case for a Detroit-area business owner in March 2015, one of the few occasions in Detroit history where someone accused of conducting a criminal enterprise was fully exonerated
● Successful constitutional challenges resulting in case dismissals based on Fourth Amendment
violations
● Helping clients avoid mandatory prison terms while maintaining lucrative professional contracts
 

 

College Basketball Career
 

Before his legal career, Haney was an accomplished Division I basketball player who left an indelible mark on college basketball. He attended San Jose State University, where he became one of the most prolific scorers and shooters in the program's history.

 

 

Outstanding Athletic Achievements
 

In 1989, Haney led the San Jose State men's basketball team in scoring with an impressive 17.0 points per game average, establishing himself as the team's primary offensive weapon. His remarkable shooting ability set multiple school records for scoring proficiency and earned him national recognition. Haney was named a Sporting News Freshman All-American, a prestigious honor that recognized him among the top first-year players in Division I basketball. His exceptional performance was particularly notable given that he achieved one of basketball's rarest accomplishments: scoring over 1,000 career points in fewer than two seasons of play.
 

 

Historic Shooting Records
 

Haney's most enduring legacy may be his extraordinary long-distance shooting accuracy. His career three-point field goal percentage of .462 (46.2%) ranks him as one of the premier shooters in the history of Division I basketball. This remarkable accuracy from beyond the arc places him among an elite group of college basketball players and demonstrates the exceptional skill that would later inform his understanding of basketball as both a player and sports attorney.

 

 

Professional Basketball Experience
 

Following his collegiate success, Haney also played professional basketball in Europe, further demonstrating his high level of basketball skill and international experience in the sport. This deep personal experience as a high-level basketball player has proven invaluable in his later career as a
sports attorney, providing him with insider knowledge of the basketball world that few attorneys possess. His playing background gives him unique credibility when representing professional basketball players and navigating the complex world of sports law.