Disbarred Fla. Lawyer Gets 4 Years for Mail Fraud; Accused of Stealing $3.9M from Clients
A disbarred South Florida lawyer has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for mail fraud and ordered to pay $3.9 million in restitution after pleading guilty to the crime in December.
That is the amount Joseph Sindaco, 63, is of stealing from clients, in various alleged schemes, at least some of which utilized his law firm trust account, reports the Sun Sentinel.
For example, liquidated an elderly man’s estate and put the money in his trust account after the man died in a nursing home, then allegedly used the funds to pay personal expenses, according to the newspaper.
The Miami Herald says Sindaco is also accused of embezzling money from real estate closings.
An article in the South Florida Business Journal provides further details.
The former Fort Lauderdale attorney practiced for 30 years prior to his disbarment.
