Disbarred NY Lawyer Faces Grand Larceny

A former lawyer who practiced in Monroe has been indicted on charges that he stole more than $50,000 of a client’s money from an escrow account.

Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips announced that J. Bennett Farrell, 67, of Brant Lake, NY has been indicted on a single count of second-degree grand larceny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

Farrell disappeared from his practice in the Village of Monroe in the summer of 2007, leaving a partially emptied office and abandoning confidential client files.

Misconduct charges were filed against Farrell, including for failing to finish client work, mishandling money in escrow and for failing to properly dispose of the client files. A state appeals court disbarred Farrell in May 2009, although he had surrendered his license the previous December.

Phillips said that between May 30, 2006 and Nov. 8, 2007, Farrell had pilfered $66,000 that had been held in escrow for a client.

Farrell, who surrendered voluntarily, pleaded not guilty, and was released on his own recognizance pending further court proceedings.

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Disbarred Lawyer Faces Grand Larceny Charge