Over a year has passed in James L Clark’s criminal case and counsel posts a day before the hearing for an extn of time due to “the voluminous files”. Is this a Stanford case? No. It’s a frivolous filing to delay this lawyer’s inevitable jail sentence. https://t.co/zu3HML7sv2
— LawsInTexas (@lawsintexasusa) July 15, 2021
U.S. District Court
Middle District of Florida (Tampa)
CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 8:20-cr-00119-TPB-TGW-1
| Case title: USA v. Clark | Date Filed: 03/12/2020 |
There are proceedings for case 8:20-cr-00119-TPB-TGW but none satisfy the selection criteria. (Searched for Doc. 48, to see if Judge Ruled on Motion to Delay).
LIT UPDATE
LIT circled back to this criminal case for an update, today, 11th December, 2020 and did we have a hard time finding the case in the M.D. Florida docket.
But we got there in the end and we can see why it was so hard to find.
This criminal lawyer was been released in May 2020 on bond and now the latest docket record is from Dec. 3, 2020 asking the US to prove its case under the Due Process Protections Act.
In tandem is the US v Liebman case, which is Clarks co-conspirator and paralegal.
Rest assured, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on this case.
FEBRUARY 10, 2021 PROCEEDINGS:
STATUS CONFERENCE (1 minute via Zoom)
Defense previously requested continuance to August/September trial term; Government advises there is a medical issue with one witness and a later trial date would be beneficial.
Court GRANTS oral motion to continue and resets case to the August 2021 trial term; Court finds that the ends of justice are served by such a continuance and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.
Trial Term: August 2021 term
Next Status Conference: July 14, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. (via Zoom)
CHIEF JUDGE TIMOTHY CORRIGAN, M.D. FL.
Former Attorney Charged With Conspiracy, Bankruptcy Fraud, And Defrauding Clients Of $1.3 Million
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the unsealing of an indictment charging James Lee Clark (59, Wilton Manors) with one count of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud, seven counts of bankruptcy fraud, one count of making a falsification of records in a bankruptcy proceeding, and eight counts of wire fraud.
If convicted, Clark faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the falsification of records count and for each wire fraud count.
He faces up to 5 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, and for each bankruptcy fraud count. The indictment also notifies Clark that the United States is seeking a money judgment of $1.3 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the indictment, from January 2010 through February 2017, Clark conspired with his paralegal, Eric Liebman, to defraud mortgage creditors and guarantors, such as Fannie Mae, who were holding mortgage notes on properties that were in foreclosure.
The indictment further charges that Clark and Liebman falsely and fraudulently represented to the distressed homeowners facing foreclosure that, in exchange for executing quitclaim or warranty deeds for their properties to an entity controlled by Liebman, they would negotiate with the mortgage creditors to prevent foreclosures.
Clark and Liebman convinced the distressed homeowners to pay them rent, or agree to put their houses up for sale.
In order to continue to collect ill-gotten rents, or profit from the sale of the properties, Clark allegedly filed fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in the names of the homeowners to prevent the mortgage creditors from lawfully foreclosing and taking title to the property. In some instances, Clark filed multiple fraudulent petitions in the names of distressed homeowners.
Additionally, it is further alleged that, from January 2012 to February 2017, Clark, who was a licensed attorney, defrauded his clients out of approximately $1.3 million.
As part of his practice, Clark would act as a trustee for his clients and also hold their money in various bank accounts depending on the purpose of trust. Instead of using the funds for the purpose intended by his clients, Clark would divert the money into his law firm’s bank accounts and pay for personal expenses, such as gambling, travel, and automobiles.
Liebman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud on September 24, 2019. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2021.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General. The Office of United States Trustee for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division provided substantial investigative assistance.
It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Lyin’ Georgia Lawyer Dipped into Government Cash and Ends Up with a 2 Year Jail Sentence
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Houston Lawyer JL Sadick Transfers $1M out of Escrow Account is Sued. Where’s The Dosh?
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Two Texans Get 5 Years Each for Theft of $25,000 in Iowa. Iowa Attorney Gets Zero Jail Time, No Felony Record and Keeps her Law License for $100,000 theft.
The two Texans were arrested June 11 after employees at Sioux City’s Scheels store saw them making suspicious purchases on a credit card.
