POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Attorney Jason Penrod was arrested for stealing over $1.7 million from a deceased client’s trust and gambling the entire sum away at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. Penrod, who was arrested in Marion County on a Polk County warrant, faces a first-degree felony charge of grand theft over $100,000, which could result in up to 30 years in prison.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Penrod confessed to his actions in a letter, admitting to being a gambling addict. He claimed he justified the theft by intending to pay the money back with interest. The theft was discovered when the children of the victim, David Anderson, filed a civil lawsuit against Penrod. Anderson’s children, now the beneficiaries of the trust, are seeking restitution.
Penrod’s law firm, Family Elder Law, unexpectedly closed in July, leaving clients and employees in limbo. The Florida Bar has reportedly been investigating Penrod for disciplinary actions related to his misappropriation of funds. Investigators suspect Penrod may have stolen from other clients and are looking into additional criminal cases.