Ohio Attorney Admits Pocketing Clients' Money; Will Give Up Law License

In Toledo, Ohio, The Toledo Blade reports:

• A lawyer who admitted in December that she fabricated a story of being kidnapped from downtown and dumped off in Georgia was found guilty [last month] in Toledo Municipal Court of a misdemeanor charge of making false [claims]. Karyn McConnell Hancock, 35, of 2663 West Village Drive, also admitted guilt yesterday in an unrelated matter in Lucas County Probate Court involving the embezzlement of more than $130,000 from the estate of a murdered Toledo city worker, said her attorney, Jerry Phillips. Similar accusations from other clients are pending against her, and the Lucas County prosecutor’s office continues to investigate theft claims.

Other claims against her include the theft of $37,000 in settlement checks from two separate clients, who have both filed civil lawsuits against her. An additional claim comes from another former client who filed a lawsuit against her, claiming that she was hired to review a real estate sale contract and subsequently pocketed the sale proceeds from property he owned, leaving the taxes and an existing mortgage, now in foreclosure, unpaid.

For more, see Toledo attorney admits role in missing funds, says she'll drop law license.