Former US lawyer Douglas Arntsen faces a lengthy stretch in prison after pleading guilty to stealing an impressive $10.7 million from clients in the space of just two years. The offence means Arntsen races to the top of RollOnFriday's Dodgy Solicitor league table.
Arntsen was an associate at major US firm Crowell & Moring from 2007 to 2011. However as well as putting in his 2,000+ hours a year, he was also stealing money from two major clients of the firm. And it wasn't just the occasional fiver slipping into his back pocket. Between 2009 and 2011, he squirrelled away an astonishing $10.7 million dollars here's the warrant for his arrest). Which makes the City of London's top legal crooks look like small fry.
Douglas looking forward to his twelve stretch. |
Arntsen put the money to work in a range of projects, clearly seeing the benefit of well diversified portfolio. According to the arrest warrant, he invested in dry cleaners, crisp distributors and, in true high-rolling style, posh meals and strippers.
Arntsen was extradited back to the US from Hong Kong at the end of 2011. Having made a bargain with prosecutors in return for his guilty plea, Arntsen will face up to 15 years inside when he is sentenced next week. A spokesman for Crowell & Moring said the firm was "pleased" with the guilty plea, although presumably less pleased that Arntsen is yet to pay back the money he owes.
Here's the current Dodgy Solicitor Hall of Shame, to be updated after Arntsen's sentencing:
Name | Jurisdiction | Crime | Sentence |
---|---|---|---|
Matthew Kluger, ex Skadden | USA | Insider trading | 12 years |
Martin Weisberg, ex Bakers | USA | $3m money laundering, securities fraud | 8 years expected |
Simon Morgan, ex Milners | England | Theft of £1.4 million | 7 years |
Kevin Steele, ex Mishcon | England | £18.4m conspiracy | 5 years 6 months |
Louise Martini, ex Williamson & Soden | England | Theft of £1.7m | 5 years |
Hugh Wotherspoon, ex Laddas & Parry | England | Groping on a night bus | 5 years on the Register |
Ajayi Seun, ex Doves Solicitors | England | Fraud involving £5.5m | 4 years |
David O'Shea, ex O'Donovan | Ireland | Theft of €779,000 | 4 years |
Kenneth Hunt, ex Hunt Kidd | England | Theft of £1m | 4 years |
Christopher Grierson, ex Lovells | England | Theft of £1.3m | 3 years |
Barbara Gayton, ex Hunt Kidd | England | Theft of £1m | 2 years |
Elena Quinlivan | England | £1.3 million mortgage fraud | 2 years |
Andy Hodges, ex Fraser Brown/Challinors | England | Theft of £70,000 | 18 months |
Emma Rowsell, ex CC | England | Theft of £63,000 | 18 months |
Richard Simkin, ex Fulbright | England | Theft of £100,000 | 16 months |
Judie Groom, ex CC | England | Theft of £23,000 | 15 months |
Leonard Sawyer | USA | Lewd acts | 180 days expected |
Partner, Hogan Lovells | Dubai | Running a red light | 20 days |
Pissed trainee, Freshfields | Dubai | Being pissed | 2 days |
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