Source: Office of United States Attorneys
MIAMI – A federal district judge in Ft. Lauderdale sentenced disbarred lawyer John Spencer Jenkins yesterday to 33 months’ imprisonment for misusing more than three quarters of a million dollars of his clients’ money.
According to plea documents and information provided during the sentencing hearing, Jenkins’ clients wired funds into his law firm’s Interest on Trust Account (“IOTA”) business account and general business account for the purpose of receiving legal services from Jenkins. In relation to his representation of one client’s estate, Jenkins admitted that the executor of the estate wired funds into his business accounts so that Jenkins would manage the distribution of the assets among his client’s designees. However, Jenkins wired those funds into separate accounts for his own personal use.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge David S. Leibowitz emphasized the importance of holding accountable people with Bar cards because they are uniquely situated with holding the public’s trust as licensed attorneys.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Altanese Phenelus prosecuted it.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-CR-60172-DSL.
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