DA: Disbarred Baldwin Attorney Stole $1M from Disabled Client

A former Baldwin attorney surrendered to officials Thursday for stealing more than $1 million from a physically and mentally disabled client, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Janice Jessup, 67, of North Carolina, was arraigned Thursday on charges of first-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud, the DA said.

Jessup faces up to 25 years in prison if she is convicted of the top charge, officials said.

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In 2007, Jessup represented a physically and mentally disabled woman in a $1.2 million eminent domain action involving real estate, the DA said. Jessup, who was hired by the woman’s family in Westbury, was given funds by court order in 2008 but never handed the money over to her clients, the DA said.

Officials said Jessup asked the court to give her the money because her client was severely disabled. She then produced documents that claimed she had the power of attorney and consenting that the funds would go to Jessup, the DA said.

A court-appointed referee visit to the Westbury family’s home and the client’s home prompted a court order to hand funds over to the client, officials said. However, Jessup had someone impersonate the client, who had been living in a North Shore care facility for two years prior to the incident, the DA said.

Jessup was disbarred in 2010 as she faced unrelated allegations of professional misconduct, the DA said. In 2013, a complaint was filed against her with the DA’s office.

Jessup is due back in court on April 15.

Photo via NCDA

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