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“I Once Called Myself A Lawyer…I Now Call Myself Thief”

By Michael Frisch

The Ohio Supreme Court accepted the resignation of a convicted attorney.

The story from the Dayton Daily News

A former Troy lawyer convicted of theft from the law firm where he worked was sentenced Tuesday to five years of community control and 90 days in the Miami County Jail.

Joshua Albright was also ordered to pay $60,560 in restitution.

Judge Christopher Gee ordered Albright, 29, to begin serving the sentence immediately.

Albright, now of Cadiz, pleaded guilty April 19 in Miami County Common Pleas Court to felony unauthorized use of property from the Roberts, Kelly and Bucio law firm. Defense lawyer Jeremy Tomb of Troy said at the April hearing there was no plea deal involved. He said Tuesday that Albright had surrendered his law license.

Albright said he was “embarrassed” and “regretful” for his actions.

“It’s entirely my fault. This was something that was done out of selfishness,” Albright said. “I once called myself lawyer…I now call myself thief.”

John Arnold, an assistant Warren County prosecutor, appointed as special prosecutor in the case, said Albright took funds clients were paying but did not turn them over to the firm.

Arnold said no amount of supervision or probation would fix Albright. “He’s either learned his lesson today or he’s not,” Arnold said.

Nicole Woodruff, a paralegal, at Roberts, Kelly and Bucio, spoke in court for the law firm. She said Albright stole money from 93 clients. She called Albright “a serious blemish” on the legal profession.

The law firm reported the theft allegations to the Troy Police Department in August 2014.

Gee ordered Albright to pay restitution to Roberts, Kelly and Bucio after hearing testimony Tuesday from a law firm office manager and a Bureau of Criminal Investigation forensic accountant.

In determining the amount stolen and the amount of restitution, the judge heard that the firm’s insurance company paid $25,000 in losses. That amount was subtracted from the total loss to reach the restitution amount.

Tomb asked Gee to delay imposing the jail sentence while Albright appeals. Gee asked Tomb to file a motion requesting to delay the sentence and released Albright on a recognizance bond.

Albright also pleaded guilty April 14 in Shelby County Common Pleas Court to one felony of forgery. Four other felonies of the same charge were dismissed.

That case involved forgery of documents in a custody case in 2014. Albright faces up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine in that case. Sentencing in Shelby County is scheduled for June 10.

(Mike Frisch) 

Posted in:
Bar Discipline & Process