Lawyer Jailed

⏱ 2 min read

Paul Harris, a 62-year-old attorney from Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for defrauding his clients and laundering money. Harris used client funds for personal expenses, including the purchase of his home and paying off his law office loan, without their permission. The scheme, which involved moving funds from his client trust account to his law firm operating account, resulted in a total loss of $701,623.86 for the victims. Harris will self-report to prison on May 6, 2026.

The federal jury found Harris guilty of 29 counts in November 2025. The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, uncovered a complex web of financial deceit. Harris used one client’s money to pay funds he had misappropriated from other clients, breaking the trust between lawyer and client.

U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey stated that citizens should trust lawyers to protect their rights and interests, not to have their money stolen. Harvey also emphasized that his office will pursue full restitution to make the victims whole. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey, includes the forfeiture of Harris Law Offices in Wheeling and $701,623.86 in restitution to the victims.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Jennifer T. Conklin. The outcome serves as a reminder that the law will hold accountable those who abuse their position of trust, including lawyers who engage in fraudulent activities.