Scammed Clients Seek Leniency for Convicted Lawyer
Clients of a disbarred Florida lawyer who pleaded no contest today to stealing some $200,000 from them are reportedly likely to seek leniency for the man they thought was representing their interests rather than his own.
That’s not because they sympathize with the crimes, however, but because they will see that their best bet to get repaid is for David Olson to get 10 to 15 years of probation instead of a prison term, according to attorney Daniel Rock, who is representing Olson, 59, in the 17-count grand theft case. Although Rock says Olson gambled away his clients’ money, according to the St. Petersburg Times’ This Just In blog, Rock also says that Olson has repaid $70,000 and will reimburse clients and the Florida Bar Clients’ Security Fund for the remaining $130,000 if he stays out of the slam. (Apparently, he plans to do so by mortgaging the $267,000 home he shares with his wife.)
Sentencing is scheduled for early March, at which point prosecutors expect to recommend a prison sentence for Olson. Says Assistant State Attorney James Goodnow: “We expect he’ll be treated like anyone else who steals money.” In theory, if he is sentenced consecutively on counts that carry a possible prison term of up to 15 years, Olson could get as much as 105 years. However, such a hefty sentence is not likely, the newspaper notes.
