Ex-Granite State Lawyer Gets 51 Months In $2.3M+ Ripoff Of Deceased Client's Estate; Handiwork Included Selling Family Home Out From Under Heirs

In Concord, New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports:

• A longtime Manchester attorney and city water commissioner was sentenced [] to four years and three months in a federal corrections facility. Thomas J. Tessier, a partner in the now shuttered Christy & Tessier law firm, pled guilty in November to bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering in an agreement with U.S. Attorney's Office. [...] Tessier pleaded guilty to bilking a client of more than $2.3 million over several years.

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• The case involves the family of Beatrice Jakobiec, who died in 2001 without a will, but had set up trusts for her two sons [...]. According to the agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Tessier submitted documents to banks with forged signatures, which gave him access to certificates of deposit from Jakobiec's estate.

• Tessier also created fraudulent documents indicating he had the power of attorney to sell the family homestead, which he did and deposited most of the money into his personal bank account. And he cashed in Jakobiec's insurance policies, investment accounts and trust accounts, claiming he had the legal right to do so and created fraudulent trusts to hide much of the money.

• Although he funneled small amounts of money to the family members, Tessier kept more than $2.3 million for himself, according to court documents. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kinsella said earlier that Tessier spent most of the money on personal expenses. [...] A substantial amount of money has been repaid to the victims, Kinsella said. Tessier was disbarred in December 2008 by the State Supreme Court.

For the story, see Tessier sentenced to 4 years in federal facility.