ATLANTA
A federal judge sentenced former Gwinnett County, Georgia, lawyer Michael Rene Berlon to five years and three months in prison for stealing more than $2 million from clients of his former law firm and using it for his own benefit.
“The defendant was a respected member of the community and held an important position of trust. Where most lawyers conscientiously live up to this trust, Berlon instead violated it by stealing large sums from his clients for his personal gain with little regard for how it affected those who trusted him with their money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn.
As part of his plea agreement, Berlon, 55, agreed to pay restitution of more than $2 million to fifteen different individuals, officials stated.
Berlon, who once served as the Georgia Democratic Party chairman, was convicted of wire fraud after pleading guilty on Feb. 25.
This is the evidence presented in court:
- Berlon was a solo practitioner in Grayson, Georgia, and the owner of the Law Office of Michael R. Berlon.
- Over the course of nearly six years, from 2008 to 2014, Berlon obtained more than $2 million in client funds.
- He told clients that he would hold the funds in a trust for safe-keeping, or that he would use the funds to resolve a financial or legal problem on the client’s behalf.
- Instead, Berlon used the funds for his own benefit, including making personal purchases and paying travel expenses, and, in some instances, repaying other clients.
- In one instance, Berlon obtained money from two people who were looking for his assistance with starting a new business. Berlon told the victims that he would help them get a loan, but that they had to provide a percentage of the requested loan amount as a down payment.
- Berlon used the money for his personal expenses and debts.
This case was investigated by the FBI.