White-Collar Crime
Texas Lawyer Gets 46 Months re $2.3M Scam of 46 Disabled Veterans
Rejecting an argument by prosecutors that a Texas lawyer should get harsher punishment than his wife for scamming disabled veterans of $2.3 million, because he had fiduciary responsibilities as their guardian, a federal judge on Wednesday gave Joe B. Phillips, 73, exactly the same sentence: 46 months.
His 72-year-old wife, Dorothy, committed the fraud while working as his legal assistant, reports the Houston Chronicle.
“I did not personally do it myself, but I accept responsibility because it happened in my office. It happened on my watch,” said Phillips at his sentencing.
The Associated Press also has a story.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Texas Lawyer Accused in $2.3M Theft From Disabled Veterans Takes Plea re 2 of 21 Counts”
