Karyn McConnell Hancock, an ex-lawyer and former Toledo councilman who has been the focus of a long investigation was charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her former clients.
A county grand jury indicted Ms. McConnell Hancock on one count of aggravated theft for allegedly taking funds from her clients over a six-year period. The indictment alleged that between Jan. 1, 2002, and Nov. 30, 2007, she stole between $500,000 and $1 million.
The prosecutor's office has identified a total of 23 alleged victims. At least 12 of the alleged victims have been identified as Ms. McConnell Hancock's clients in Lucas County Probate Court. In July, a report released by the court indicated that Ms. McConnell Hancock stole nearly $335,000 from estates she represented.
According to the reports involving the alleged victims in probate court, Ms. McConnell Hancock used her legal escrow account, or Interest on Lawyers Trust Account, to inappropriately deposit and withdraw funds. The investigation revealed that Ms. McConnell Hancock would deposit money from her clients' estates into the account but only legally paid out small portions of it.
The reports labeled the rest of the funds as "missing."
Full Article and Source:
McConnell charged with 1 count of theft; amount stolen put at $500,000-$1M
More information:
McConnell Hancock indicted on felony theft
McConnell-Hancock indicted on felony theft charges
See also:
Missing Money From Estates
Missing Money Over 300K
A county grand jury indicted Ms. McConnell Hancock on one count of aggravated theft for allegedly taking funds from her clients over a six-year period. The indictment alleged that between Jan. 1, 2002, and Nov. 30, 2007, she stole between $500,000 and $1 million.
The prosecutor's office has identified a total of 23 alleged victims. At least 12 of the alleged victims have been identified as Ms. McConnell Hancock's clients in Lucas County Probate Court. In July, a report released by the court indicated that Ms. McConnell Hancock stole nearly $335,000 from estates she represented.
According to the reports involving the alleged victims in probate court, Ms. McConnell Hancock used her legal escrow account, or Interest on Lawyers Trust Account, to inappropriately deposit and withdraw funds. The investigation revealed that Ms. McConnell Hancock would deposit money from her clients' estates into the account but only legally paid out small portions of it.
The reports labeled the rest of the funds as "missing."
Full Article and Source:
McConnell charged with 1 count of theft; amount stolen put at $500,000-$1M
More information:
McConnell Hancock indicted on felony theft
McConnell-Hancock indicted on felony theft charges
See also:
Missing Money From Estates
Missing Money Over 300K
4 comments:
Another liar - sorry: lawyer - will bite the dust.
Too bad it takes so long to catch them. Aren't IOLTA accounts monitored more closely? Wasn't that the purpose of IOLTA?
Geee, I wonder how often this happens?
Probate is like the gold rush people trampling over each other to get the gold.
I think it is high time state or federal investigators raid the courthouses, remove probate files and start looking for stolen money.
What are they waiting for?
Crooks, crooks - they are everywhere with love of money as their reason for living. We are in big trouble, this makes me want to blow all my money now leaving all the crooks with an empty bag - no loot.
There isn't a book big enough to throw at this woman for what she's done!
Notice that the article reports "The prosecutor's office has identified a total of 23 alleged victims". How can a lawyer get away with exploiting 23 families? Especially in a state (Ohio) where the American Medical Association and others have advocated needed safeguards? Responsiblity for this clearly rests with the state's leadership in the legal profession. For proof, just ask me (tvfields@oh.rr.com) for it.
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