Chester Co. Lawyer Arrested Third Time For Fraud: DA

WEST CHESTER, PA — A local lawyer has been arrested for the third time as authorities continue to uncover further instances of fraud, announced Friday.

Joshua Janis, 38, "engaged in a seemingly never-ending series" of criminal activity that included defrauding his clients and using his ex-wife's identity to open false accounts to pay for strip clubs, porn, and other personal expenses, officials said.

The latest charges issued Friday allege that Janis, a Downingtown resident who worked at a law firm in West Chester from 2006 to 2013, defauded three more clients of around $8,000, according to the District Attorney's Office.

He's already been charged in connection with 29 other defrauded clients.

>>Chester Co. Lawyer Arrested Again; Stole Ex-Wife's Identity: DA

Specifically, in the recently uncovered cases, Janis received legal retainer fees and did not put them into the required trust account, the DA said.

Charges he faces include theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, receiving stolen property, and theft by deception. Bail has been set at $10,000, and a preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 15.

If you have any information on Janis, please contact Chester County Detective Bob Dougherty at 610-344-6866.

Image via Chester County District Attorney's Office