Prominent Lawyer Indicted, Accused of Faking Brother's Will
Federal prosecutors have indicted a prominent Pennsylvania lawyer, accusing him of faking the will of his deceased brother who had previously disinherited him.
The brothers were once law partners until an acrimonious split in 1986. During that time Peter Karoly and his wife signed wills leaving their estate to siblings, except Allentown lawyer John Karoly, the Associated Press and Express-Times report.
Peter Karoly and his wife died in 2007 when their small plane crashed in New Bedford, Mass.
Prosecutors maintain that after the plane crash, John Karoly and others conspired to create fake wills naming John and several nieces and nephews as heirs.
A lawyer for John Karoly, who has won several large police brutality awards, maintains his client is being unfairly targeted, the AP notes.
“I just find it disturbing,” lawyer Robert Goldman is quoted saying. “In some circles of law enforcement, he’s got a target on his head.”
A civil suit over the estate is also pending.
