Legal News

Attorney admits to stealing from Atlanta law firm

By (Breaking Legal News)

An Atlanta attorney has admitted to stealing more than $500,000 from his law firm.

Michael Shaw, 37, of Mableton, is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 5 by U.S. District Judge Willis B. Hunt. Shaw faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the scheme.

According to federal authorities, Shaw performed ?investigative services,? but submitted invoices totaling $90,000 in the name of an investigator who worked at the same law firm. He also performed title-examination services and submitted invoices totaling $425,000 in the name of a fake vendor, according to federal authorities.

?As a lawyer, Shaw had a duty to act with his clients? best interests in mind,? U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a news release. ?Instead, he used his position at the law firm to enrich himself at their expense. In the end, he lost his license to practice law and now faces federal prison.?

Shaw was fired after the misconduct was discovered in 2009, according to authorities. The Georgia State Bar has also disbarred Shaw.

Full post as published by Breaking Legal News on October 21, 2010 (boomark / email).