Suspended Attorney From Howell Indicted In $140K Theft From Clients

NEWARK, NJ — A suspended attorney from Howell Township who was a partner in a Newark law firm has been indicted by a state grand jury on charges that he and his partner stole more than $140,000 from clients of the firm, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced.

Gerald M. Saluti Jr., 49, of Howell, and Richard M. Roberts, 79, of Bloomfield, were indicted on charges of conspiracy, theft by failure make required disposition of property received, hindering apprehension or prosecution, and perjury, a release from Porrino's office said.

From October 2012 through August 2013, Roberts and Saluti allegedly conspired to steal over $140,000 from four clients of their firm whose funds had been placed in the firm’s attorney trust account, prosecutors said.

The funds allegedly included settlement awards owed to the clients and monies the lawyers were obligated to hold in escrow or use to make payments on behalf of the clients, prosecutors said. In addition to allegedly misappropriating funds to pay the firm’s expenses, Roberts and Saluti are accused of using funds to pay their personal expenses, including car payments, credit card bills and entertainment expenses, prosecutors said. Roberts allegedly used $20,000 in stolen funds to make alimony payments, authorities said.

Roberts and Saluti also are accused of telling law enforcement and testifying under oath that the practice administrator for their firm, Gabriel Iannacone, was solely responsible for the misappropriation of certain client funds from the attorney trust account, prosecutors said. Instead, authorities allege, Roberts and Saluti conspired with Iannacone in those improper withdrawals and payments.

Ianncone pled guilty on Jan. 23 to third-degree conspiracy to commit theft by failure to make required disposition of property received, Porrino's office said. Sentencing is pending for Iannacone.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed against Roberts and Saluti, Porrino's office said, and both remain suspended from the practice of law in New Jersey. Roberts was suspended in November 2015, and Saluti, in February 2014, officials said. In August 2013, the men dissolved their partnership, Roberts & Saluti LLC, which did business as Saluti Law Group.

The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Timothy P. Lydon in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Morris County, where Roberts and Saluti will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charges.

Photos via the New Jersey Attorney General's Office