Disgraced San Antonio lawyer Chris Pettit has obtained a 50-year federal jail sentence for wire fraud and cash laundering fees, Justice Division officers stated Wednesday.
U.S. District Choose Orlando Garcia sentenced Pettit to fifteen years every for 3 counts of wire fraud, based on the Justice Division. The previous legal professional received a further 5 years on his cash laundering cost.
Pettit, who pleaded responsible to the costs in October, could be 106 years outdated by the point of his launch.
The sentencing attracts to an in depth an almost two-year-long authorized saga, which transpired after reporting from the Specific-Information aired the issues of shoppers who suspected Pettit could have embezzled funds they entrusted to him.
As a substitute of placing that cash into funding funds, as promised, Pettit pocketed the money to assist his extravagant life-style, Justice Division officers stated. Pettit stole someplace between $20 million and $65 million from these shoppers, authorities added.
“Christopher Pettit used his place of belief as an legal professional to defraud his shoppers of tens of millions of {dollars}, in some instances their life financial savings, all for his personal egocentric profit.” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Aaron G. Tapp stated in a press release. “As we speak’s sentence displays the resolve of the FBI to carry to justice anybody who would make the most of their place to line their very own pockets.”
A listening to to determine how a lot Pettit owes in restitution shall be held at a later date, based on federal authorities.
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