Monday, November 2, 2020

Former lawyer in central VA indicted on federal charges, arraignment scheduled Nov. 17

by Sara Grace Todd

Cherie Anne Washburn practiced at a law firm in Forest where she has been indicted on federal charged relating to financial exploitation. (WSET)

FOREST, Va., (WSET) -- A former lawyer who practiced in Forest, VA has been indicted on federal charges in connection to financial exploitation.

Cherie Washburn has been indicted on 13 counts of federal crimes - 10 counts of wire fraud, 1 count of mail fraud, 2 counts of false statements to a mortgage lender, according to court documents.

Washburn has been accused of using her position as Power of Attorney to write multiple checks to herself as well as online money transfers while working at Wetzel and Washburn, PLLC, located in Forest, VA.

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One of the clients Washburn is accused of stealing from released a statement following the release of the indictments.

With the announcement of this indictment, we are pleased to hear that attorney Cherie Washburn is being held accountable for the harm that she has caused. As a former Commonwealth prosecutor and estate planning attorney, she used her position of trust to exploit, defraud, and prey upon others who entrusted her with everything they had. What made this worse is that she used her position as an attorney to manipulate, threaten, intimidate and silence her victims, including their loved ones, who questioned her about what happened to their assets under her care. We are thankful that her elaborate methodical scheme is coming to light, and we pray that she will be held fully accountable to the highest extent of the law.

Washburn is scheduled for a Nov. 17 arraignment via Zoom conference given the COVID-19 pandemic.

 
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