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SAN FRANCISCO – The attorney for the son of Bay Area food critic and chef Narsai David said Friday that he may stop defending Daniel David, 36, against federal charges of fraud and money laundering because of a potential conflict of interest. 

Daniel David and 38-year-old Scott Nisbet, both of Berkeley, were indicted last March on charges of creating an elaborate pay phone scam that allegedly netted them $444,000 in fees from phony 800 number calls in 1999. 

Attorney Richard Hove, who has represented Daniel David since March, told U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston that “a potential conflict of interest has developed between Mr. David and myself.” 

Hove, who didn't explain what the potential conflict is, told the judge that he and David will try to resolve the matter by the next court hearing. If they cannot resolve their issues, Hove said Daniel David will have a new lawyer by that time. 

Daniel David will return to court Oct. 25 on the legal representation issue and again on Nov. 22 for pretrial motions. 

Daniel David and Nisbet face charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering and filing a false income tax return. 

Daniel David is free on a $750,000 bond that was posted by his popular father. 

Nisbet is also free on a $750,000 bond that was posted by his father, retired AC Transit District general manager and attorney Robert Nisbet.