Wednesday, March 30, 2011

80-Year-Old New Jersey Lawyer Charged With Theft

The Passaic County Prosecutor has charged 80-year-old Clifton lawyer Kenneth Brookman of North Caldwell with three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property.

Prosecutor Camelia Valdes announced the arrest of the 1135 Clifton Ave., lawyer on Tuesday. According to the Prosecutor's office, Brookman's license to practice law, obtained in 1956, was suspended July 2010.

The complaints against Brookman, according to the Prosecutor's office, allege Brookman stole about $100,000 from three clients during 2008 to 2010.

In the first matter, Brookman failed to disburse $74,539 to the beneficiary of an estate, according to the Prosecutor's office. In the second matter, Brookman failed to pay over a $17,000 deposit being escrowed on a real estate transaction and in the third case, Brookman again failed to distribute $5,069 to the beneficiaries of an estate, according to the Prosecutor.

During the period of the thefts, Brookman illegally transferred clients' funds out of his Attorney Trust Account to his personal bank account or otherwise converted the entrusted funds to his personal use, a release by the prosecutor's office reads.

Theft by Failure to make Required Disposition of Property (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-9) is a third degree offense punishable by up to five years in state prison.

Full Article and Source:
Clifton Lawyer, 80, Charged With Theft

4 comments:

Gregg said...

I've just got to wonder if he thieved all along and just got caught or if this was his first theft...

Thelma said...

The guy may die in the can, but what good is it to have a discipline organization if they don't mete out just punishment to everyone?

Betty said...

A thief can be a thief at any age. Too bad this man decided to go bad at a late stage in life and his career.

Ben said...

He'll probably get off with a slap of the wrist because that's what usually happens to lawyers.