A Beechview-based attorney and an employee of Allegheny County's
Department of Court Records Wills/Orphans’ Court Division have been
charged criminally today in relation to the filing of an estate that was
later voided.
Attorney Thomas O’Neill, 75, of Beechview and county probate clerk
Thomas Halligan, 58, of Wilkins both face charges of securing execution
of documents by deception, false swearing, tampering with public records
and obstructing administration of law.
According to an affidavit by detective Jackelyn Weibel, of the
Allegheny County Office of the District Attorney, the two worked
together in August on the million-dollar estate of doctor John D. Wargo,
who died in July. A friend of his who lives in Virginia sought to open
an estate as the executrix, but had only a copy of the will, not the
original.
The friend had initially contacted another local attorney, who told
her about the difficult process of determining whether there is an
available, original will. She later called that attorney, according to
the affidavit, and said “she had decided to go down another road.” The
other attorney later reached out to investigators.
The affidavit describes the “other road” as a winding one featuring the two charged men and a suspicious signature.
Video surveillance of the wills office showed that on Aug. 11, Mr.
O’Neill approached the counter at which Mr. Halligan worked, and “slowly
and painstakingly signed” an estate document, according to the
affidavit. Mr. Halligan then put it into a counter drawer, according to
the affidavit. The executrix was not present, but the investigation
later showed that her name was on one of the signature lines.
According to the affidavit, Mr. Halligan sought two weeks later to
“reverse” the estate — an act which the affidavit described as “very
unusual.”
According to the affidavit, when detectives later interviewed Mr.
Halligan, he “stated that he made a mistake in judgment,” and voided
everything. He told detectives he “did not watch O'Neill sign the forms”
but confirmed that he “doesn't know how else they would have gotten
signed.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in September reported the existence of an
investigation into Mr. O’Neill and the office. Four people who had
filed estates with the office said they had been steered by staff to Mr.
O’Neill.
Such recommendations are at odds with county policies, under which
members of the public with legal questions must be referred to the
Allegheny County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.
Mr. Halligan was suspended from his $47,590-a-year job at the time.
Full Article & Source:
Beechview attorney, county clerk face charges in alleged estate scheme
It makes me wonder how many cozy relationships like this are formed and are stealing from the elderly.
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