Lori Deveny defrauded at the least 135 purchasers out of greater than $4.5 million, in accordance with courtroom paperwork.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal decide has sentenced former Portland lawyer Lori Deveny to eight years in jail and ordered her to pay $4.5 million in restitution. Prosecutors argued Deveny stole hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from her purchasers — lots of whom suffered traumatic head accidents.
“If I may return, I’d select a unique path,” mentioned Deveny, who apologized to her victims throughout Monday’s sentencing listening to.
Deveny, who surrendered her regulation license in Oregon in Might 2018, beforehand pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud, wire fraud, financial institution fraud, aggravated identification theft, cash laundering and submitting a false tax return.
Courtroom papers described how Deveny used the cash embezzled from her purchasers to pay for large recreation searching journeys to Africa, together with different holidays, transforming her house and costly cigars.
Prosecutors alleged that Deveny stole from her purchasers by cashing their settlement checks from insurers.
“She systematically robbed her victims — not with a gun and masks however pen and regulation license,” mentioned Claire Fay, Assistant U.S. Legal professional for Oregon throughout Monday’s sentencing.
Based on courtroom paperwork, Deveny defrauded at the least 135 purchasers out of greater than $4.5 million.
Because of the case, the Oregon State Bar raised its cap on how a lot victims of a dishonest lawyer can declare from the bar’s consumer safety fund. Moreover, state lawmakers handed laws that requires insurance coverage corporations notify beneficiaries once they ship settlement checks so the consumer will know cash is accessible similtaneously the lawyer.
Deveny shall be sentenced on similar state charges on January 26.
