Disbarred Virginia Attorney Pleads Guilty To Mortgage Fraud

In Virginia, the Martinsville Bulletin reports:

• "Former Collinsville attorney Jimmie R. Lawson pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to one federal count of mail fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. [...] 'He pleaded guilty to using the mails to obtain money from various lending institutions by falsifying closing documents,' said [Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat] Hogeboom, summarizing the government’s evidence and Lawson’s plea. [...] The government and Lawson agreed that the losses were between $2.5 million and $5 million, Hogeboom said."Reportedly, Lawson had his law license revoked in 2005 by the Virginia State Bar Association because of allegations of reports of lying to clients, stealing client funds and using those funds in unsuccessful business ventures, forging documents, being involved in fraudulent mortgages and other allegations of less-than-upstanding conduct. He currently faces an embezzlement charge in state court, and was also successfully sued by boxer Riddick Bowe for $1.03 million, claiming that Lawson "improperly borrowed money" from an escrow account used in a home purchase.

For more, see Former Collinsville attorney pleads guilty to mail fraud.

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