For several years, a Maryland lawyer dipped into client funds without being caught. But then he received a $385,000 cashier's check purporting to be a payment for legal work needed by a company in Asia.
The check turned out to be bogus, and when the bank called in authorities to investigate, other irregularities soon came to light, according to the Washington Post.
Attorney Bradley Schwartz, 62, pleaded guilty to felony theft this week and will be sentenced later this summer in the Montgomery County case. Prosecutors say he took a total of $1.56 million from 21 clients.
He is cooperating with investigators and has agreed to be disbarred.
Schwartz has also assigned the $750,000 proceeds of his life insurance to help repay the loss, the newspaper says. In the meantime, his clients have been made whole by the Bar of Maryland's Client Protection Fund.