Stephen Jones, a former attorney from Orlando, was sentenced to 42 months in prison, followed by 10 years of probation, for Scheme to Defraud over $50,000, a FirstDegree Felony, for misappropriating funds that were due to a former client. He was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution, with $36,000 going to the victim and his wife. $64,000 in restitution was ordered to the Florida Bar Clients’ Security Fund, which previously reimbursed the victim that amount based upon their determination in a separate action that the defendant misappropriated those monies placed in the lawyer’s trust.
The State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) launched an investigation after being contacted by the Florida Bar, who discovered financial inconsistencies involving client’s money, while reviewing the defendant’s trust account in an unrelated case in Orange County.
In the Lee County case, the defendant stole $100,000 in insurance proceeds from the insurance settlement of a Vietnam veteran, who was hit by a bicycle in Lehigh Acres in 2019.
Assistant State Attorney J.D. Miller, Chief of the ECU and Assistant State Attorney John Humphreville of the ECU prosecuted the case. SAO Investigators conducted the investigation which led to the charges in Fort Myers as well as charges for Third Degree Theft in Orange County, involving the theft of $11,000 in insurance proceeds.
As a result of the defendant’s criminal actions, he was permanently disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court in 2021.
The Florida Bar is the organization of all lawyers licensed by the Supreme Court of Florida to practice law in the state. The Florida Bar’s core functions are to: regulate the practice of law in Florida; ensure the highest standards of legal professionalism in Florida; and protect the public by prosecuting unethical attorneys and preventing the unlicensed practice of law.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director