Attorney Admits Stealing Over $500K From Trust Tied To New Canaan: Officials

NEW CANAAN, CT — A 70-year-old man on Friday waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to a fraud offense stemming from his embezzlement of more than $500,000 from a trust with ties to New Canaan, according to an announcement from officials.

Edward W. Miller, of Lawrence, N.Y., pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Miller is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 13.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller was an attorney licensed to practice law in New York.

In December 2014, an individual, identified in court documents as "M.P.," established a trust for the purpose of managing certain real property, including a commercial building that M.P. owned in New Canaan, according to United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut David X. Sullivan and Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation P.J. O’Brien.

Edwards was named as the trustee and was directed to open a trust bank account to manage the finances of the real property in the M.P. Trust, including depositing rental income from the commercial building into the trust account, paying costs associated with the management of the building, and distributing funds to M.P., officials said. Miller was also responsible for overseeing the building maintenance in the M.P. Trust.

The trust provided that Miller would be paid 5 percent of total monthly rents collected and any agreed-upon commissions for new tenant leases and renewals, officials said.

Between approximately February 2016 and September 2022, Miller embezzled more than $500,000 from the M.P. Trust by writing and negotiating unauthorized checks from the M.P. Trust to himself, his law practice, and to his relatives for his own benefit, officials said, noting he also made unauthorized withdrawals and transfers from the M.P. Trust bank account.

After M.P. died in 2022, Miller made false representations and promises to M.P.’s beneficiaries about the identification, whereabouts, and disbursement of the trust’s assets, officials noted.

Miller has previously paid restitution of $509,372 as part of a settlement of a separate civil lawsuit filed by the victims.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.