Judge Refuses To Reduce 14-Year Sentence For Disbarred Attorney Guilty Of Looting $1.7M+ In Clients' Escrow Funds; Laments Inability To Increase Term

In Central Florida, the St. Petersburg Times reports:

• Disbarred Clearwater lawyer Richard Da Fonte, who asked a judge to reconsider his 14-year sentence for stealing more than $1.7 million from clients, has been denied his request for shortened prison time. "I think the defense is very lucky that the law is that I cannot increase the sentence,'' Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Joseph A. Bulone said Friday.

For more, see Prison term of disbarred lawyer Richard Da Fonte sticks.

Go here for other posts on disbarred lawyer Richard Da Fonte.

(1) If a Florida attorney is representing you and screws you out of money or property through dishonest conduct and you seek some financial reimbursement for the screwing over, go to The Florida Bar's Clients' Security Fund for more information. For other states and Canada, see:

• Directory Of Lawyers' Funds For Client Protection (American Bar Association);
• Check the USA Client Protection Funds Map;
• Check the Canada Client Protection Funds Map.