Lawyer Admits to Stealing Client Funds

PHILADELPHIA—Gomer Thomas Williams, 54, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud clients of the legal firm where he worked. Williams was an attorney and associate with the Philadelphia law firm, Spector Gadon & Rosen (Spector). Between 2007 and 2012, Williams defrauded four of his trust and estate clients of approximately $503,361 by diverting funds from his clients’ accounts to his personal accounts and by overbilling his clients for legal work that was not performed.

U.S. District Court Judge Legrome Davis scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 23, 2014. Williams faces a potential advisory sentencing guideline range of 33 to 41 months in prison, a $100 special assessment, a possible fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

For the trusts, Williams was the trustee, and, for the estates, Williams was the administrator and/or executor. Williams exercised complete control over the victim-clients’ funds, including controlling their checking accounts. Williams abused his fiduciary position in transferring funds from their accounts to pay his own personal expenses, including his mortgage.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.