Federal judge sentences former PI attorney to 63 months for embezzling $1M from clients
A former Oregon personal injury attorney was sentenced Monday in Eugene to 63 months in federal prison for embezzling over $1 million from his clients.
Additionally, Bryan Gruetter, 55, must pay $1.14 million in restitution for the client thefts that occurred between 2008 and 2012. He used the stolen money to pay business and personal expenses, the Portland Business Journal reports. The Associated Press also has a story.
Gruetter gave up his law license in 2012 and pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the Oregonian reported at the time.
According to the latest Oregon State Bar Bulletin, the Oregon State Bar had paid out $939,000 to his former clients, a record for the state. Attorney assessments for the client security fund went from $15 to $45 to cover the shortfall.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Ex-attorney faces federal criminal case over claimed $1M in client thefts”
