Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Police: More charges against Mokena lawyer who embezzled from trusts


MOKENA – Police say a Mokena-based lawyer who set up trust funds took another victim for $300,000.

Two more theft charges were filed last week against John W. Pleta, of Tinley Park, after a fourth victim's loss was verified by investigators to a grand jury, according to Mokena Police Chief Steve Vaccaro.

On Dec. 23, Pleta was arrested by Mokena police after being accused of helping himself to more than $1 million of an elderly client's trust fund.

Pleta has been a lawyer for 30 years and specialized in estate planning and wills. At the time of his arrest, he maintained an office on Bormet Drive.

"Three other victims have been discovered since his arrest where money was taken in the same fashion," Vaccaro said  Tuesday.

Pleta, 56, remains in Will County jail.

Full Article & Source:
Police: More charges against Mokena lawyer who embezzled from trusts

2 comments:

Sassy said...

Beware of trust funds. They used to be all the rage and now they're harmful.

Sassy said...

Lawyers who steal should receive stronger punishment