Crime & Safety
Disbarred Montco Attorney Stole $146K From Clients With Special Needs: DA
The ex-attorney used the money meant for special needs clients for his own purposes, including meals, movie tickets, and sporting goods: DA.
COLLEGEVILLE, PA -- A disbarred attorney has been arrested for stealing $146,000 that was meant for clients with special needs, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. Patrick J. Bradley, 45, of Collegeville, allegedly established accounts for his clients and then used the funds for personal reasons without providing the agreed-upon legal services.
"The defendant's actions in unlawfully taking a significant sum of money earmarked to help those with special needs is not only illegal, but it's disturbing on a basic human level," DA Kevin Steele said in a statement.
An investigation into Bradley and his firm, Bradley Law LLC, began last August, the DA's office said. Bradley had already been under investigation since 2013 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for similar accusations of mishandling client funds.
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Bradley created accounts called "Special Needs Trust Agreements" for five clients, the DA said, and then established himself as the sole trustee. He took $116,340 from those accounts.
Special Needs Trusts are established for the benefit of an individual with disabilities or impairments.
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Seven other families also paid Bradley more than $30,000 directly to provide legal services for special needs family members, the DA said. Bradley did not provide the services required and used the money for his own purposes, authorities said.
Bradley used the money for utility bills, gas for his car, sporting goods, movie tickets, meals at restaurants, home mortgage payments, cell phone payments, and other personal items, according to the DA.
The 12 victims are all applying for reimbursement of the lost funds.
Bradley was arraigned and bail was set at $250,000, which he met. He was then released. A preliminary hearing is set for May 2.
Authorities said that there could have been other victims. Anyone with information on questionable legal interactions with Bradley should call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at 610-278-3368.
Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office
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