Disbarred South Florida attorney charged with embezzling $650,000

FLORIDA — A disbarred South Florida attorney has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering, accused of embezzling approximately $650,000 in client funds.

John Spencer Jenkins, 54, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, allegedly took funds intended for the heirs of a client’s estate for his personal gain, according to an indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO).

According to the indictment, Mr Jenkins was entrusted with $643,399.35 in proceeds from a client’s estate, which he was supposed to distribute to the heirs. Instead, the indictment alleges Jenkins deposited the funds into his firm’s Interest on Trust Account and then diverted the money for his own use.

The USAO alleges that Mr Jenkins laundered the funds through another account to conceal the theft.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri announced the indictment and arrest.

Jenkins was arrested in Philadelphia, Pa.

Mr Jenkins faces three counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and three counts of money laundering, each with a maximum sentence of 10 years.

If convicted, his sentence will be determined by a federal judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller leading the prosecution.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.