Liberty Attorney Robert J. Young II Indicted for Stealing $62K in Restitution

Liberty attorney Robert J. Young II, 47, is behind bars after being indicted on federal obstruction of justice charges for allegedly stealing $62,412 in victim restitution funds meant for his client’s court-ordered repayment. The money, collected from the family of convicted mail fraud defendant Rodney J. Tatum, was instead funneled into Young’s personal pockets through a scheme involving trust accounts and illicit transfers.

According to a federal indictment unsealed in Kansas City, Mo., Young used an Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) to accept four deposits totaling $42,412 from Tatum’s wife, with explicit instructions the funds be used for restitution. An additional $20,000 check was deposited directly into Young’s business account after he advised Tatum’s wife to bypass their soon-to-be-frozen joint account, claiming he could shield the money from FBI seizure.

Instead of safeguarding the funds, Young allegedly siphoned restitution money to buy himself a motorcycle, make repeated cash withdrawals, cover rent payments, and finance retail spending sprees. When Tatum appeared for sentencing on January 21, 2016, Young failed to produce the $62,412—forcing the court to continue the hearing to March 3, 2016. The full restitution total was later set at $442,810, which Tatum’s family ultimately paid out of pocket.

The indictment details how Young repeatedly transferred money from the IOLTA to his business account, blurring the line between client funds and personal gain. Investigators say the transactions weren’t just mismanaged—they were part of a calculated effort to obstruct justice and profit from a client’s legal crisis.

Young was arrested following the unsealing of the indictment, which was originally returned under seal by a federal grand jury on November 2, 2016. He made his initial court appearance the same day the charges became public. He faces federal prosecution on one count of obstruction of justice, a charge that carries significant prison time if convicted.

The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker and was investigated by the FBI. U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson emphasized that the indictment is an accusation, not proof of guilt, and that a jury will ultimately decide the outcome. For now, Robert J. Young II’s law license and reputation hang in the balance as the justice system turns its focus on the attorney who allegedly stole from the victims he was sworn to serve.