Former lawyer who is accused of faking settlement allegedly forged signature of BigLaw partner
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A lawyer-turned-trucker accused of faking a settlement allegedly forged the signature of a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, a prosecutor told a federal judge Monday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Chiuchiolo of Manhattan in New York City said during a status hearing Christopher Hammatt will be charged with aggravated identity theft in a superseding indictment, Law360 reports.
Hammatt was already accused of fraud for allegedly faking a $16.5 million settlement with General Motors to obtain a $75,000 loan agreement from a litigation funding company. He and his wife received $30,000 of that money, prosecutors alleged.
Hammatt was scheduled for trial on fraud charges in May. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, Law360 reports.
Hammatt had previously discussed a plea agreement, but the the talks didn’t succeed until the prosecutor’s Monday announcement, according to Law360.
Chiuchiolo said Monday that Hammatt allegedly forged the signature of Kirkland partner R. Allan Pixton, who represented General Motors in litigation over faulty ignition switches. The signature was intended to make the settlement look legitimate.
According to Law360, the name “Allan” was misspelled as “Alan.”
Under the plea agreement, Hammatt would forfeit $30,000. He would also face a possible fine and possible sentence “in the range of four years,” according to Law360.
The aggravated identity theft charge would have added the possibility of a mandatory two-year sentence.
Updated April 15 at 8:45 a.m. to include information about the plea agreement.
