White Collar Crime

Lawyer Accused of Embezzling $500K From Her Own Grandmother Gets Probation

A Texas lawyer who took a plea earlier this year after being accused of embezzling $500,000 from her own grandmother has avoided a prison sentence. However, Judge George Godwin told Michelle Lorenz Valicek, 54, that he doubts she will comply with the terms of her deferred adjudication probation, the San…

Nov 21, 2012 4:35 PM CST

Lawyer Accused of Misusing IDs of Terminally Ill in $30M Investment Scheme Takes Plea

As testimony was about to resume Monday in a federal trial that had been expected to continue for months, a Rhode Island estate planning lawyer and a former employee accused of misusing the identities of dying individuals in a $30 million investment scheme both took a plea. Attorney Joseph Caramadre,…

Nov 19, 2012 6:30 PM CST

Ex-Mayer Brown Partner Joseph Collins Guilty on 7 Counts in Case re Fraud By Former Refco Execs

An ex-partner of Mayer Brown was found guilty Friday by a federal jury in Manhattan of seven of the 10 counts he faced for allegedly helping then-executives of the Refco Inc. commodities brokerage perpetrate a $2.4 billion fraud on investors. Joseph Collins was convicted of conspiracy, securities and wire fraud…

Nov 16, 2012 9:33 PM CST

Trial Begins for Estate Planning Lawyer Who Bought Annuities for the Dying; Was His Idea Legal?

Updated: Trial has begun–and, much sooner than expected, ended–for a Rhode Island estate planning attorney who was federally indicted (PDF) last year after being accused of making $15 million or more, with the help of others, by defrauding dying individuals into allowing insurance investments to be made in their names…

Nov 14, 2012 9:34 PM CST

Lawyer Charged with Laundering Drug Cartel Money Is Denied Bail; Feds Call Him a Flight Risk

A jailed Texas lawyer who has been federally indicted concerning his role in a claimed conspiracy to launder some $600 million for a Mexican drug cartel has been denied bail at a Wednesday hearing. Prosecutors contended, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Norbert Garney apparently agreed, that Marco Antonio Delgado is a…

Nov 14, 2012 8:37 PM CST

Lawyer Takes Plea, Gives Up Law Practice; Records Showed He Charged Extra for DWI Backdating

A North Carolina lawyer had initially intended to fight a criminal obstruction of justice case over the work he did for clients charged with driving while intoxicated. But after counsel for James Crouch, 46, found out last week that he had altered law office paperwork, after he was criminally charged,…

Nov 14, 2012 5:59 PM CST

2nd Circuit Reverses Disbarred Lawyer’s Fed’l Immigration Fraud Conviction Over Voir Dire Issue

A federal appeals court panel has reversed the immigration fraud conviction of a disbarred New York lawyer, finding that his constitutional right to a public trial was violated because the presiding judge excluded the attorney’s brother and the brother’s girlfriend from the courtroom during voir dire. The judge reportedly did…

Nov 13, 2012 11:10 PM CST

Disbarred PI Attorney Is Jailed After Reportedly Trashing Law Office From Which He Was Being Evicted

Criminally charged in September with stealing from clients, disbarred last month and ordered in a separate civil eviction case to vacate by Oct. 31 the Dallas law office for which he had failed to pay rent, a former Texas personal injury lawyer is now facing new trouble. Thomas Corea, who…

Nov 7, 2012 9:47 PM CST

W. Va. Lawyer Takes Plea in Federal Mail Fraud Case re $159K in Claimed False PD Billing Vouchers

A West Virginia private practitioner accused of defrauding the state’s public defender agency of $159,000 by billing for hours she did not work has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of mail fraud. Lisa A. Weese, 43, remains free on bond pending sentencing after her Tuesday plea in U.S. District…

Nov 7, 2012 6:34 PM CST

Texas Lawyer Indicted and Jailed re Claimed Role in Alleged Mexican Drug Money-Laundering Conspiracy

An El Paso, Texas, lawyer was arrested Friday at a local restaurant and jailed, pending a Thursday detention hearing, on a sealed federal indictment that federal officials say charges him with a role in a claimed conspiracy to launder $600 million in Mexican drug cartel money. Federal officials say Marco…

Nov 6, 2012 10:11 PM CST

Pa. Lawyer Gets 33 Months for Embezzling Money From Clients Under Guise of Legal Fees

A suspended Pennsylvania lawyer has been sentenced to a 33-month federal prison term for embezzling more than $100,000 from clients. Kenneth Reidenbach, 61, was convicted last year of multiple felonies including bankruptcy fraud concerning money allegedly taken from four bankruptcy and divorce clients, under the guise of attorney’s fees, between…

Nov 5, 2012 4:58 PM CST

Vegas Judge, 5 Others Federally Indicted re Claimed $3M Fraud Scheme

A Nevada family court judge has been federally indicted, along with five other defendants, in a claimed $3 million fraud scheme that Clark County Judge Steven Jones allegedly used the power of his office to help promote. Jones has not been arrested but is expected to surrender Thursday to authorities,…

Oct 31, 2012 8:14 PM CDT

Federally Convicted of Helping Client Launder $200K, Prominent Defense Lawyer Gets Over 3 Years

Still proclaiming his innocence, a high-profile criminal defense lawyer convicted earlier this year in a $200,000 money-laundering conspiracy for which prosecutors said he earned $20,000 was sentenced Wednesday to a three and a half-year prison federal term. The prosecution in the Boston case had asked for five years; the defense…

Oct 31, 2012 5:34 PM CDT

Attorney Defendant Won’t Get Free Lawyer in Courthouse Fraud Case, Texas Judge Rules

A Texas lawyer facing 46 felony counts for based on allegations she double-billed Bexar County for her indigent defense services and forged judge’s signatures now says she herself needs free legal services. But a prosecutors contended that Hilda Valadez was engaging in “fraudulent indigency” to further benefit herself at the…

Oct 30, 2012 5:10 PM CDT

Attorney Found Guilty of Misdemeanor Law Firm Theft, Acquitted by Judge on Over 15 Felony Charges

An Ohio lawyer was found guilty after a bench trial Friday of a misdemeanor petty theft from his former law firm, because he had a client make out a $500 check to him personally and did not share the payment. However, Jesse Jackson Jr., 48, was acquitted by Butler County…

Oct 29, 2012 8:46 PM CDT