Disbarred South Fla. Lawyer Gets 1 Year for Stealing Client Insurance Settlements

A former South Florida attorney was sentenced last week to 366 days in prison for stealing client insurance settlement money.

Anthony Scalese had faced a maximum sentence of up to 30 years on the original charges against him of organized fraud, grand theft and uttering forged documents. "He pleaded no contest to two felony charges of organized scheme to defraud and forgery," reports the Insurance Journal.

Initially arrested late last year, he has since been disbarred, the publication reports. He was also sentenced to 15 years of probation, and must pay a total of $113,500 in restitution to at least five clients.

Additional coverage:

Miami Herald: "Pembroke Pines lawyer gets year and day for theft"

Updated at 5:15 p.m. to correct a typographical error.