Ex-lawyer charged with money-laundering and stealing $1.5M from client estates
A New Jersey lawyer who was disbarred by consent last year following an earlier client-theft accusation was charged with money-laundering and multiple theft counts in a superseding indictment announced on Tuesday.
Joseph Talafous Jr., 53, is accused of stealing $1.5 million between 2004 and 2015, primarily from five clients’ estates, reports the Asbury Park Press.
In addition to money-laundering, the former Jersey City practitioner is also facing other charges including multiple theft counts; state income-tax fraud charges, concerning money he took for himself and allegedly failed to report; and misapplication of entrusted property counts.
He is represented by attorney Gerald Miller, who told the newspaper his client intends to plead not guilty.
The state attorney general’s office is prosecuting the case, which was referred by a Mercer County Superior Court judge to Hudson County, reports NJToday.net. Its article also provides a link to the superseding indictment (PDF).
Related coverage:
New Jersey Advance Media: “Disbarred lawyer stole $1.5M from clients, AG says”
