Now-Disbarred Central Florida Lawyer Who Fleeced Widow, Brain-Damaged Child, Others Out Of Over $2.7 Million In Entrusted Funds Gets 10 Years In Federal Prison

From the Office of the U.S. Attorney (Orlando, Florida):

• U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Julie W. Kronhaus (52, Winter Park) to 10 years in federal prison for wire and bank fraud. In addition, she was ordered to pay over $2.7 million in restitution.(1)
  
  Kronhaus pleaded guilty on January 24, 2017.
  
  According to court documents, from June 2009 to February 17, 2015, Kronhaus, who was a licensed attorney and Certified Public Accountant in Florida, defrauded her clients and banks of approximately $2.7 million. As part of her practice, Kronhaus acted as a trustee for her clients and also held their money in various bank accounts. Rather than using the funds for the purpose intended by her clients, Kronhaus diverted the money into her law firm’s bank accounts and paid for her personal expenses.
  
  In addition, Kronhaus engaged in a check kiting scheme where she wrote checks from accounts that had insufficient funds. She deposited the worthless checks into her trust account at another bank to give the appearance that there were sufficient funds in the account. She then issued checks from her trust account to her clients, taking advantage of the bank’s float time.

Source: Disbarred Winter Park Attorney Sentenced To 10 Years For Defrauding Clients And Banks Of $2.7 Million.

See also, Now-Disbarred Central Florida Attorney Admits Fleecing Clients Of Over $2.7 Million (Among Victims: Single Mom Of Child Born w/ Severe Brain Damage, Widow Whose Husband Died In Car Crash, Local Mom & Pop Businesses).

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(1) In Florida, the Clients' Security Fund was created by The Florida Bar to help (at least partially) compensate persons who have suffered a loss of money or property due to misappropriation or embezzlement by a Florida-licensed attorney.

For similar "attorney ripoff reimbursement funds" that sometimes help cover the financial mess created by the dishonest conduct of lawyers licensed in other states and Canada, see:

• Directory Of Lawyers' Funds For Client Protection (February 2017) (includes Canadian recovery funds, courtesy of the American Bar Association);
• Check the USA Client Protection Funds Map;
• Check the Canada Client Protection Funds Map.

Maps available courtesy of The National Client Protection Organization, Inc.  ripoff reimbursement