COLUMBUS, GA – A once-respected Columbus lawyer is trading his courtroom for a prison cell after admitting to pilfering over $1.6 million from his clients. George W. Snipes, 68, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Clay Land also hit Snipes with a hefty $1,638,000 restitution order – money he stole and now must repay.
The U.S. Secret Service investigation revealed Snipes’ scheme began in 2017 after an automobile accident injured two clients. Snipes, acting as their attorney on a contingency basis, negotiated a $48,000 settlement. But instead of forwarding the funds to his injured clients for medical bills and lost wages, Snipes pocketed the cash for personal use, a betrayal of the trust placed in him.
“George Snipes violated his sworn oath as a lawyer and committed a federal crime when he made the choice to divert money intended for his injured clients into his own pocket,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. The investigation showed Snipes knowingly submitted requests for funds, intended for his clients, while fully aware the money wouldn’t reach its intended recipients. It wasn’t a simple mistake; it was calculated theft.
The scope of Snipes’ fraud extended beyond the initial settlement. A review of his Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) revealed a pattern of unauthorized distributions spanning from January 2017 to January 2018. Snipes allegedly made personal distributions, paid expenses for a rental company he owned, and even funneled money to Parent-Teacher Associations and storage facilities – all without client consent. A staggering $468,750 was withdrawn in cash, and an additional $167,600 was written directly to Snipes.
“The United States Secret Service along with its law enforcement partners remain committed to aggressively investigative those responsible for defrauding victims the way Snipes did. Not only did he violate the trust of his clients but the oath he swore to uphold as an attorney,” said Clint Bush, United States Secret Service, Resident Agent in Charge, Albany, Georgia. The Secret Service worked alongside the Columbus Police Department to build the case against Snipes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin Hyde prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and ensuring Snipes faces consequences for his actions. With no parole in the federal system, Snipes will serve his full 51-month sentence before being released under supervision. This case serves as a stark warning: those who abuse their position of trust and exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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