Louis M. Smith Jr. was indicted on four counts of wire fraud for allegedly misappropriating $467,000 from a dead person's estate.
The indictment alleges in part that Smith misrepresented the true value of the estate to heirs, according to a news release issued by the U.S. attorney's office.
He also is charged with two counts of transporting across state lines more than $5,000 belonging to a trust account of another person and the estate of a dead person.
The maximum penalties for the crimes are 100 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine.
Smith was suspended from practice by the Kentucky Supreme Court in March 2008. He is charged in Jefferson Circuit Court with stealing $680,000 from one client who was elderly and another who is deceased; he is also accused of the unauthorized practice of law and other offenses. He has pleaded not guilty in that case, which is set for trial in May.
Steve Romines, Smith's attorney, could not be reached for comment. But Romines has said in court that his client has been diagnosed with dementia, and he has asserted in court papers that the diagnosis could provide a "complete defense or at the least lessen his criminal responsibility."
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Suspended, former lawyers charged
The indictment alleges in part that Smith misrepresented the true value of the estate to heirs, according to a news release issued by the U.S. attorney's office.
He also is charged with two counts of transporting across state lines more than $5,000 belonging to a trust account of another person and the estate of a dead person.
The maximum penalties for the crimes are 100 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine.
Smith was suspended from practice by the Kentucky Supreme Court in March 2008. He is charged in Jefferson Circuit Court with stealing $680,000 from one client who was elderly and another who is deceased; he is also accused of the unauthorized practice of law and other offenses. He has pleaded not guilty in that case, which is set for trial in May.
Steve Romines, Smith's attorney, could not be reached for comment. But Romines has said in court that his client has been diagnosed with dementia, and he has asserted in court papers that the diagnosis could provide a "complete defense or at the least lessen his criminal responsibility."
Full Article and Source:
Suspended, former lawyers charged
The lawyer is fishing and I hope this scheme isn't successful.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Oh, this is good, I need to remember this one.
ReplyDeleteWe need to watch this case closely.
Diagnosed with dementia - when?
Now, we know why prosecutors refer to defense lawyers as: "the dark side"
Baloney -- and they all know it, including the judge.
ReplyDeleteIf Smith did these awful things, then he needs to stand up and take whatever is thrown at him.
ReplyDelete100 years in prison sounds like a good start!