Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a State College attorney was sentenced on March 26 by United States District Judge Malcolm Muir to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution totaling $307,208.68 following his conviction on federal charges stemming from thefts from clients in real estate closings.

According to Mr. Carlson, William Donovan, age 62, of Legin Lane, State College, was sentenced by Judge Muir to this prison term following his July 2008, guilty plea conviction on theft charges arising out of two real estate transactions that occurred in December 2007. In these transactions Donovan admitted to stealing more than $307,000 in client funds entrusted to his care by individuals and a title insurance company.

In addition to sentencing Donovan to two years in prison Judge Muir ordered him to pay more than $307,000 in restitution to the victims of these thefts, and directed that Donovan serve a three-year term of supervised release following his jail sentence. At sentencing Judge Muir quoted the statements of the victims in this case, stating that: ”There need to be serious consequences for attorneys who abuse their clients’ trust.”

According to United States Attorney Carlson, this case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Carlson praised The FBI for its thorough investigation of this matter.