Lawyer, Now Disbarred, Stole $96K From Elderly Client, State Says

A disbarred lawyer from Toms River has been indicted on charges that he stole more than $96,000 from an elderly man who he represented, acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced.

Joseph J. Talafous Jr., 53, of Toms River, who practiced in Jersey CIty, was indicted on second-degree counts of theft by deception and misapplication of entrusted property, according to a news release from Hoffman’s office.

Between November 2008 and November 2010, Talafous allegedly used a power of attorney to make numerous unauthorized withdrawals from an investment account of the elderly client and, after the client died in early 2010, from the client’s estate, Hoffman said. Talafous also is accused of falsely representing that the withdrawals, which totaled $96,020, represented fees for legal services. But he never submitted any bills or records of legal services to support the withdrawals, Hoffman said. Talafous allegedly stole $61,175 from the investment account and $34,845 from the estate, the indictment said.

The matter was referred to the Division of Criminal Justice by the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. The state Supreme Court disbarred Talafous, revoking his license to practice law in August 2015.

“Lawyers are supposed to diligently guard the interests of their clients, but instead Talafous allegedly took advantage of this elderly client to the tune of $96,000, repeatedly stealing from the ailing man while he lived and then continuing to steal from his estate,” Hoffman said. “Talafous’ conduct was deplorable.”

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Hudson County, where Talafous will be arraigned on the charges at a later date.