A paralegal pleaded guilty to duping an 84-year-old attorney who was suffering from the onset of dementia into selling his law office for a $20 bill.
Mario David Abernathy was sentenced to two years in state prison for felony grand theft from an elderly person. He was also ordered to pay $15,300 in restitution to the victim. In addition, the grant deed and documents transferring the victim's law practice, estate and finances to the defendant and his family were ordered to be declared null and void.
The Orange County Public Guardian obtained temporary conservatorship to protect the financial holdings of the attorney, whose wife of more than 50 years had recently died, in July 2008, according to a statement released by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
According to District Attorney spokeswoman Farrah Emami, Abernathy, who is informally trained as a paralegal, met the attorney in August 2008 and befriended the victim. Abernathy then started to take advantage of the victim's deteriorating medical condition.
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Paralegal admits duping attorney into selling his practice for $20
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Paralegal Bought Elderly Lawyer’s Law Practice for $20
PARALEGAL SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING 84-YEAR-OLD ATTORNEY, WHO SUFFERED FROM DEMENTIA, BY PURCHASING $750,000 LAW OFFICE WITH $20 BILL
Mario David Abernathy was sentenced to two years in state prison for felony grand theft from an elderly person. He was also ordered to pay $15,300 in restitution to the victim. In addition, the grant deed and documents transferring the victim's law practice, estate and finances to the defendant and his family were ordered to be declared null and void.
The Orange County Public Guardian obtained temporary conservatorship to protect the financial holdings of the attorney, whose wife of more than 50 years had recently died, in July 2008, according to a statement released by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
According to District Attorney spokeswoman Farrah Emami, Abernathy, who is informally trained as a paralegal, met the attorney in August 2008 and befriended the victim. Abernathy then started to take advantage of the victim's deteriorating medical condition.
Full Article and Source:
Paralegal admits duping attorney into selling his practice for $20
More information:
Paralegal Bought Elderly Lawyer’s Law Practice for $20
PARALEGAL SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING 84-YEAR-OLD ATTORNEY, WHO SUFFERED FROM DEMENTIA, BY PURCHASING $750,000 LAW OFFICE WITH $20 BILL
Too bad! If not for that, some other lawyer could have gotten rich by making the old guy his ward!
ReplyDeleteThe paralegal probably learned the tricks of the trade from his associations.
ReplyDeleteI bet the old guy ends up a ward, sadly.
ReplyDeleteOnce someone's been victimized, the vultures start circling.
KARMA?
ReplyDeleteThis was a planned scam.
ReplyDeleteBEWARE: The vultures are out there, they are everywhere, hovering, laying in wait for you, their prey.
Only 2 years in the slammer? What a sweeeeeet deal.
I am so disappointed, this crook deserves more time in a prison cage.
The felon will be out in no time, with time off for good behavior.
The Orange County Public Guardian already has the 84 year-old attorney, Anonymous 3.
ReplyDeleteThe difference now is that everything the Orange County Public Guardian takes (the remainder of his estate) will be court-approved. There will be no jail time and no resitution.
How sad, this elderly gentleman will end up turning over his entire estate to his guardian.
ReplyDeleteHeck, if only he knew what was coming, betcha he would have preferred to have had a grand old time traveling, fine dining, gambling, gentlemen's clubs, designer clothing, whatever it takes to spend, spend, spend it all while you can, leaving zip, zero, nadda in the end.
Deliberate actions of a predator. It's sickening how he befriended him and then took him.
ReplyDeleteMario David Abernathy got off easy. Two years isn't much.
Bet this thief will do it again.
ReplyDelete