“Lawyers have a solemn duty to protect their clients’ interests and at a minimum, be trustworthy,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “Danny Butler abandoned these principles and will pay a steep price.”
Butler was indicted on November 15, 2017. According to a sentencing memo before the Court, from August 2009 through October 2016, Butler used his position as an attorney to steal funds from his clients causing a loss of over $1.2 million dollars to his client victims who were a combination of estate and general civil law practice clients.
During the period of the theft, Butler incurred approximately $1.5 million in gambling losses. Butler used the stolen money to fund his gambling habits as well as to fund payments to other clients in a “Ponzi” type fashion. Butler used the theft from his clients to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
Butler misappropriated funds from the following clients:
- Approximately $148,106 from the estate of L.A.;
- Approximately $29,987.07 from the estate of L.P.;
- Approximately $401,500 from the representation of B.M.;
- Approximately $50,000 from the representation of D.M.;
- Approximately $50,000 from the estate of D.B.;
- Approximately $90,000 from the representation of J.R.B.;
- Approximately $90,000 from the estate of E.U.;
- Approximately $25,000 from the estate of E.M.;
- Approximately $59,000 from the representation of J.W.S.;
- Approximately $25,000 for the representation of E.S.; and
- Approximately $125,000 from the estate of L.P.M.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Calhoun and Nicole Elver, and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). - Story courtesy of myq104.com