Liberty attorney Robert J. Young II, 48, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison without parole for stealing $62,412 in victim restitution funds meant for a client’s fraud case. U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips handed down the sentence in Kansas City, Mo., holding Young accountable for a brazen betrayal of trust that undermined the justice system itself.
Young was found guilty of obstruction of justice on Nov. 6, 2017, after a one-day bench trial. He had been entrusted with funds by the family of Rodney J. Tatum, a defendant convicted of mail fraud for embezzling from his employer. Instead of applying the money to restitution, Young funneled the cash into his personal accounts—using it to buy a motorcycle, cover rent, make retail purchases, and withdraw cash.
The stolen funds came from four deposits totaling $42,412 made by Tatum’s wife into Young’s Interest on Lawyers Trust Account, plus a $20,000 check deposited into his business account. Young advised Tatum’s wife to route the money through him, falsely claiming he could shield it from seizure as FBI agents pursued money laundering charges against Tatum. He promised the full $62,412 would be delivered at Tatum’s Jan. 21, 2016 sentencing—then showed up empty-handed.
When questioned in court, Young lied, claiming the money was held in his Missouri Lawyer’s Trust Fund. In reality, he had already spent it. The restitution was only paid after Young was removed from the case and a federal public defender was appointed. Tatum was ultimately ordered to pay $442,810 in restitution and sentenced to 15 months in prison.
At trial, Young compounded his crime by perjuring himself, insisting the stolen funds were legitimate legal fees. Court records show Tatum had already paid Young $11,500 in fees and that both parties had agreed the additional money was strictly for restitution. The court found Young’s testimony not only false but a calculated effort to exploit his position as an attorney.
At the time of his indictment, Young faced 11 active complaints with Missouri’s Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel. One client gave him money to pay a traffic fine—Young never paid it, leading to the man’s arrest on a warrant. Nine others alleged they paid for legal services that were never provided. His law license was suspended on Aug. 23, 2016. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker and investigated by the FBI.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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