Authorities in Toms River have charged a Utah man with multiple fraud-related offenses after he allegedly posed as a licensed attorney and collected tens of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting clients.
Bradley D. Billhimer announced that David T. Schlendorf, 54, of Holladay, Utah, faces four counts of theft by deception and five counts of unauthorized practice of law.
According to investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and the Toms River Police Department, the case began in March 2025 when a Toms River resident hired Schlendorf for legal representation and paid him approximately $10,000. Authorities allege that Schlendorf falsely claimed to be a licensed attorney, despite having been disbarred in New Jersey in December 2022.
Schlendorf was arrested on October 7, 2025, in Toms River by county and local detectives. He was held at the Ocean County Jail before being released under New Jersey’s bail reform policies.
Further investigation revealed a broader pattern. Between January 2023 and September 2025, five additional victims reportedly hired Schlendorf for legal services, paying a combined total of around $60,000.
Officials say Schlendorf has since been served with additional charges and is expected to appear in Ocean County Superior Court.
“We suspected there might be more victims, and unfortunately that has proven to be the case,” Billhimer said in a statement. Authorities are encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Billhimer also credited the coordinated efforts of the prosecutor’s Economic Crime Squad and the Toms River Police Department for advancing the investigation.
The charges are accusations, and Schlendorf is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
