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Press Release

Attorney Who Stole $1.8 Million from Oxford Woman's Estate Sentenced to 45 Months in Federal Prison

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

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PETER M. CLARK, 58, of Woodbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 45 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for stealing more than $1.8 million from the estate of an Oxford woman who died in 2010.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Miriam S. Strong of Oxford died on July 2, 2010.  At the time of her death, Strong had a will, which left money, property and other items to a list of individuals, the Town of Oxford, the State of Connecticut and several religious and other charitable entities.  The will also called for the creation of a scholarship fund for college-bound students from Oxford.  CLARK drafted the will as Strong’s attorney and served as a witness to Strong’s execution of the will.  The will named CLARK and another individual as co-executors.  The investigation revealed that, during the course of the administration of the will, CLARK took more than $1.8 million from Strong’s estate for his own use.

CLARK will be ordered to make restitution to the Connecticut Client Security Fund, which has reimbursed Miriam Strong’s estate.

CLARK was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 21, 2015.  On October 19, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.

CLARK, who is released on a $500,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on February 24, 2016.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police – Western District Major Crime Squad.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.

Updated January 13, 2016