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Press Release

Disbarred Winter Park Attorney Sentenced To 10 Years For Defrauding Clients And Banks Of $2.7 Million

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Julie W. Kronhaus (52, Winter Park) to 10 years in federal prison for wire and bank fraud. In addition, she was ordered to pay over $2.7 million in restitution.

 

Kronhaus pleaded guilty on January 24, 2017.

 

According to court documents, from June 2009 to February 17, 2015, Kronhaus, who was a licensed attorney and Certified Public Accountant in Florida, defrauded her clients and banks of approximately $2.7 million. As part of her practice, Kronhaus acted as a trustee for her clients and also held their money in various bank accounts. Rather than using the funds for the purpose intended by her clients, Kronhaus diverted the money into her law firm’s bank accounts and paid for her personal expenses.

In addition, Kronhaus engaged in a check kiting scheme where she wrote checks from accounts that had insufficient funds. She deposited the worthless checks into her trust account at another bank to give the appearance that there were sufficient funds in the account. She then issued checks from her trust account to her clients, taking advantage of the bank’s float time.

 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James D. Mandolfo.

Updated June 13, 2017

Topic
Financial Fraud