Ex-lawyer and former state Democratic party chief is federally charged in claimed $1.8M client fraud
A former Georgia lawyer who, until last year, served as leader of the state Democratic party, was indicted last week based on accusations that he cheated his own clients out of $1.8 million.
Michael Rene Berlon, 55, is charged with mail and wire fraud, according to the Political Insider blog of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Another Atlanta Journal-Constitution article and an FBI press release provide further details.
Berlon is accused of obtaining money between 2008 and 2013 under false pretenses, such as by diverting money for his own personal use that he was supposed to have put into trusts. Arraigned Friday in the Atlanta case, he could not be reached by the newspaper for comment.
A spokesman for the state Democratic party told the AJC that it “desired and secured the resignation of Berlon more than a year ago. Under new leadership, the party is thriving and we continue to look forward, rather than behind.”
Berlon voluntarily surrendered his law license in June, a state supreme court opinion (PDF) shows.
