Lawyer Disbarred for Theft in Client Funds

A Jacksonville lawyer already in jail on grand theft charges was disbarred in the theft of $220,000 in client funds, The Florida Bar said Monday.

Pursuant to an order of the Florida Supreme Court, Stephen Edward Silkowski also was ordered to pay $228,000 in restitution to Don Drinkwater. He reported to the Bar last year that his proceeds from a condemnation settlement were being improperly held by Silkowski.

Silkowski, 45, altered trust account records to try to show that the money was still there, the Bar said.

A lawyer since 1991, Silkowski is a former president of the Jacksonville Mensa chapter. He is in the Duval County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail and claimed in court to be indigent.

According to an arrest report, the Bar referred Silkowski’s case to prosecutors in February. The file included numerous letters and e-mails from Silkowski to Drinkwater attempting to explain why the money hadn’t been paid, State Attorney’s Office investigator Leon Ortagus said in an arrest warrant affidavit.

The day before the Bar was to audit Silkowski’s books, he sent a forged doctor’s letter in an attempt to delay the audit, state Supreme Court records show. The next day he e-mailed the Bar.

“You caught me. If possible I would like to resign pending disbarment or similar. I will cooperate fully,” he wrote. “ I have already begun de-lawyering. ... Just tell me what to do — I will not fight it.”

But when the Bar conducted the audit, trust account bank statements had been altered to show balances nearly $300,000 higher than the actual amount. Ortagus said $220,000 of Drinkwater’s money was unaccounted for and $121,000 worth of checks had been written to Silkowski from the account.

Supreme Court records show Silkowski didn’t contest disbarment and pledged to try to make restitution to Drinkwater. He faces a maximum 30-year sentence if convicted of grand theft.

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Jacksonville Lawyer Disbarred for Taking $200,000 From Clients