Lawyer to Serve Four Years for $290K Theft

On behalf of Raymond Giudice P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, October 29, 2013.

Atlanta solo Kristen Richbourg has been sentenced to serve four years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing almost $290,000 from a client.

Richbourg, 38, was given $535,000 in 2011 by Andrew Clark, who had obtained the funds in a severance agreement.  The lawyer was to invest some of the funds and make regular distributions to Clark; instead, she diverted a large portion to her own accounts.

Clark reported the theft to the Atlanta Police in April, and Richbourg was arrested and charged with conversion and forgery.  In May, Clark filed a civil suit in Fulton County Superior Court charging Richbourg with fraud, conversion, breach of trust and other counts.

On Thursday, Richbourg pleaded guilty to three counts of theft by taking and two counts of first degree forgery, according to a release from Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard.  Magistrate Richard Hicks sentenced Richbourg to 15 years, with four to serve and the balance on probation.  She also was ordered to surrender her law license and pay $289,045 in restitution.

Richbourg’s attorneys, Kim Jackson and Bryan Grantham of Hawkins, Parnell, Thackston & Young, said in a statement that they were pleased the judge accepted the plea deal.  “Ms. Richbourg has taken responsibility for her actions and understands that she has made mistakes.”

Clark’s attorney, Stephen Gibbs, said his client may recover something from the state bar’s program for clients whose attorneys have taken funds from IOLTA accounts.

SOURCE:  www.dailyreportonline.com,  “Laywer to Serve Four Years for $290K Theft,”  Greg Land, October 28, 2013.