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Disbarred lawyer who disappeared is sentenced for stealing shopper cash, together with funds for girl’s care
By Debra Cassens Weiss
July 9, 2025, 8:55 am CDT
A disbarred South Florida lawyer has been sentenced to 33 months in jail and ordered to pay greater than $760,000 in restitution for stealing cash from shoppers, together with property funds supposed to pay for the care of a lady who’s now 89 years outdated. (Picture from Shutterstock)
A disbarred South Florida lawyer has been sentenced to 33 months in jail and ordered to pay greater than $760,000 in restitution for stealing cash from shoppers, together with property funds supposed to pay for the care of a lady who’s now 89 years outdated.
U.S. District Choose David S. Leibowitz of the Southern District of Florida sentenced 55-year-old Florida lawyer John Spencer Jenkins on June 26, based on a June 26 press launch and tales by the Miami Herald and Legislation.com. Jenkins had pleaded responsible to at least one depend of wire fraud and one depend of cash laundering.
Jenkins was arrested in Philadelphia in September 2024 after disappearing with shopper funds. He had been disbarred in July 2024 and ordered to pay greater than $612,000 to the property of William L. Walters, who’s known as “W.W.” in a factual proffer filed by Jenkins’ lawyer March 20.
The factual proffer stated Jenkins advised the executor of Walters’ property that the cash needs to be deposited into his legislation agency belief account, in order that he may handle the distribution. That illustration was “materially false and fraudulent,” the proffer stated.
The cash was supposed for distribution to a nephew, two nieces and the care of a youthful sister who’s now 89 years outdated, based on the Miami Herald.
Within the proffer, Jenkins acknowledged making three transfers for his private use: one switch of $543,832 from the property (supporting a wire fraud depend within the indictment), one other $70,000 switch (supporting the cash laundering depend), and a switch of $88,000 owed to a different shopper in reference to the sale of his firm’s belongings.
Jenkins entered a 90-day residential substance abuse program after his arrest and launch, based on a June 13 movement for a downward departure from advisory sentencing pointers. He was at the moment receiving outpatient therapy.
He suffers from anxiousness and despair, compounded by long-standing dependancy to medicine and alcohol, the movement stated. He suffered a serious relapse after his fiancee died from an overdose in 2021.
Jenkins is “homeless, has no belongings, is on meals stamps, and carries over $480,000 in debt,” the movement stated.
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