Lawyer Takes Plea re Alleged $600K Client Theft, Gets Probation and Deferred Adjudication
A real estate lawyer in Massachusetts has taken a plea concerning his theft of nearly $600,000 in client funds he was supposed to distribute at two closings to pay off mortgages and compensate the sellers.
Attorney Edward “Pete” Vincent admitted the government could prove two counts of larceny, the Martha’s Vineyard Times reports. In exchange, two fiduciary embezzlement charges were dismissed.
The judge in the Edgartown District Court case Friday sentenced Vincent to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service and gave him a stern lecture, the newspaper recounts.
However, Presiding Justice H. Gregory Williams continued the case without a finding and the larceny charges against Vincent will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for the next year.
Because Vincent has made full restitution to his clients from a land sale, they are satisfied with the sentence and have dismissed civil suits, the article says. Vincent has made no explanation of what he initially did with the money from the closings.
Vincent’s law license was temporarily suspended in July by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and he could face further attorney discipline.
He was defended by attorney Robert Jubinville.
