Ex-Lawyer from Well-Known Palm Beach Family Expected to Plead Guilty in $600K Client Theft Case
A disbarred Florida lawyer whose biological and adoptive fathers were both well-known in Palm Beach County has reportedly decided to plead guilty as his trial was about to begin today for allegedly stealing over $600,000 from three clients.
A. Clark Cone will plead guilty in the Palm Beach Circuit Court case after a restitution agreement is finalized, his lawyer, Genevieve Hall, tells the Palm Beach Post.
He is the adoptive son of the late Al Cone, a legendary West Palm Beach lawyer, and the biological son of Joe Peel, who was convicted of masterminding the 1955 murders of Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Curtis Chillingworth and his wife.
Cone’s connection to the Chillingworth slayings wasn’t public knowledge until after he was accused of stealing from clients, when the family connection made the news along with the alleged theft, the article notes. He was charged with larceny and fraud; the article doesn’t say what charge or charges will be involved in the expected plea.
Earlier coverage:
Palm Beach Post (2009): “Lawyer’s fall stirs gruesome memories”
Updated at 11:22 a.m. to link to prior Palm Beach Post article.
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.