The status of a Dixon attorney’s law license is uncertain after he pleaded guilty this week to bilking thousands of dollars from a now-deceased Dixon woman.“When we’re dealing with allegations of conversion or theft from an elderly person, we always ask for a substantial penalty, like disbarment or a long suspension,” said Jim Grogan, deputy administrator and chief counsel of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
Al Henry Williams, 63, pleaded guilty Thursday in Lee County court to financial exploitation of a disabled person, a Class 4 felony, and was sentenced to 6 months of conditional discharge.
In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors from the state attorney general’s office dropped the more serious charges of financial exploitation of an elderly person and theft of between $10,000 and $100,000.
He also was ordered to pay $15,992 in restitution to the estate of Dorothy Gaul, and $593 in court fees.
If Williams successfully completes the terms of his discharge and pays all fines and restitution, the case will be dismissed.
Full Article and Source:
Attorney Pleads Guilty to Financial Exploitation
8 comments:
Another example of a thieving attorney!
Al Henry Williams should be disbarred. No question about it. A long suspension isn't a punishment, Mr. Grogan.
What amazes me is IL ARDC's pusuit of a good lawyer like Ken Ditkowsky, while bad lawyers like Al Henry Williams proliferate.
I wonder if ARDC will release how many complaints were filed against Al Henry Williams before he was charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person.
What a sweet deal in the name of we the people of ILLINOIS! NO NO NO we don't like this!!!
Where's the prison time?
This case is showing the lawyers and guardians with criminal minds who are saying catch me if you can, if we do catch you (and how rare is that before statute of limitations goes poof?)well we'll bend over for you.
CRIME PAYS:
In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors from the state attorney general’s office dropped the more serious charges of financial exploitation of an elderly person and theft of between $10,000 and $100,000.
He also was ordered to pay $15,992 in restitution to the estate of Dorothy Gaul, and $593 in court fees.
If Williams successfully completes the terms of his discharge and pays all fines and restitution, the case will be dismissed.
The case will be dismissed if Al Henry Williams pays his fines, restitution etc.?????? WHAT?????
Does that sound like justice or does it sound like All Henry Williams is getting a deal from ARDC?
I agree with IL resident Mad .....
this is not enough, Financial exploitation on the part of attorrneys is rampant in Cook County, IL. Not only is it rampant, it is approved by the judges on the 18th floor of the Daley Ceter in Chicago.
Then, to make matters worse, the IARDC approves it as well. Numerous complaints come back with responses from the IARDC saying nothing wrong occurred during the guardianship proceedings, despite deceit and depletion of wards' estates with legal fees..
Probate sharks conducted an audit, and it can be read here:
http://probateshark.blogspot.com/search/label/ARDC%20AUDIT%20RESULTS
case dismissed hey wait a minute here look at this very closely the case will be dismissed means no record of the crime so lets see if i was williams what would i do hmmmm i know i'll go into the guardianship business easy pickings and good golly case was dismissed no record so if anyone goes looking in criminal background check i'm clean?! gee and we pay the salaries of those who handed out this gift to a crook? we the chump taxpayers are getting it from all ends and in the end when we are victims
If Williams successfully completes the terms of his discharge and pays all fines and restitution, the case will be dismissed.
Unbelievable! What a deal for him!
jerri is right, we have a an urgent issue it appears dismissing the case against Henry Williams gives him many courtesies and opportunities to make it all go away, all charges and sentence disappear.
He will be able to go undetected in criminal background checks. I consider this to be an urgent issue that needs to be scrutinized no one knows where Henry Williams go nor do we know who is next victims will be.
How many Henry Williams are there? I think these prosecutors need to be questioned as to their motive and intent here and why they are so eager to roll over?
"....A person who had a criminal case nolle prossed and has no other arrests or convictions should be eligible to have the record of that criminal case expunged by filing a petition in the circuit court where it took place........"
READ THIS!!!
CRIMINAL LAWYER ILLINOIS
http://www.criminallawyerillinois.com/2010/07/10/what-is-the-legal-definition-of-nolle-prosequi/
Lewis Gainor, Attorney at Law. Dedicated to Criminal Defense
What is the legal definition of nolle prosequi?
by Lewis Gainor on July 10, 2010
When a criminal case is dismissed in an Illinois court of law, the result can be somewhat disappointing for the defendant.
The reason is, there is hardly ever a court document using the term “case dismissed.”
The dismissal of criminal charges takes place by way of a motion from the prosecution called, “nolle prosequi.”
A motion to nolle pros a case is a Latin term meaning roughly, ‘no more prosecution.’ When the prosecution decides to drop charges, it will make a motion to nolle prosequi the charges. The court then determines whether to grant or deny that motion to nolle pros.
The law provides that the judge is supposed to rule on any other motions that are pending before granting or denying the motion to nolle prosequi.
In theory, a situation could arise where the defendant is charged with a misdemeanor offense of battery, but the State has knowledge that the victim suffered very serious injury that would qualify the offense as aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony for great bodily harm).
A savvy defendant could attempt to enter a plea of guilty to the misdemeanor offense and protect himself from the felony by double jeopardy.
If the motion to enter a plea of guilty is made prior to State’s motion to nolle pros, then the court would apparently have to accept the guilty plea and sentence the defendant on the misdemeanor.
The other occasions in which a court would actually use the term “dismiss” would be where the charge was dismissed pursuant to a motion to dismiss for violation of the defendant’s right to a speedy trial.
That would be a dismissal in the true sense of the word because the dismiss would occur regardless of the State’s inclination to drop or pursue the charges. A motion to nolle pros, on the other hand, is a voluntary act on part of the prosecution.
One important consideration is that a nolle pros is the equivalent of a dismissal for purposes of expungement and sealing.
A person who had a criminal case nolle prossed and has no other arrests or convictions should be eligible to have the record of that criminal case expunged by filing a petition in the circuit court where it took place.
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