Disbarred lawyer faces likely prison time after admitting theft of more than $1M from 2 clients
Disbarred by consent in 2010, a former New York lawyer is now facing likely prison time after admitting to stealing more than $1 million from two ex-clients.
Janice Jessup, 68, pleaded guilty to grand larceny Monday in Nassau County Court, Newsday (sub. req.) and the Associated Press report.
Prosecutors said she diverted more than $1 million won by a mentally and physically disabled client in an eminent domain case, persuading a judge the client had OK’d the transaction by arranging for someone else to impersonate the client during home visits by a court worker.
Jessup also stole $85,000 from an 85-year-old, the government said, using information she obtained while helping the woman get a reverse mortgage.
The judge said she could expect to get three to nine years in prison when she is sentenced in March, the newspaper reports.
Jessup left court without commenting but her lawyer, Ira Weissman, told Newsday she has “great remorse” about her crimes and “to the day she dies, she’s going to try to repay what she’s taken.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “DA’s office: Ex-lawyer charged in $1.2M theft got the money by having someone impersonate her client”
New York Law Journal (sub. req.): “Disbarred LI Attorney Facing New Theft Charges”
