A West Virginia attorney has been sentenced to federal prison after defrauding clients out of more than $700,000, according to prosecutors.
Paul Harris, 62, of Wheeling, received a 97-month prison sentence for fraud and money laundering, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia announced.
Authorities said Harris misused funds from client trust accounts for personal expenses, including purchasing a home and paying off a loan tied to his law practice.
Investigators found that the money was transferred from client trust accounts into accounts controlled by his law firm. In total, victims lost $701,623.86.
Harris is scheduled to report to prison on May 6, while prosecutors continue efforts to recover restitution for the victims.
