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Tulsa Attorney Sentenced for Embezzling from Special Needs Clients
A former attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to prison for embezzling money from clients with intellectual disabilities.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell ordered Leslie Ellen Mansfield, 61, to serve 18 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Mansfield was also ordered to pay $137,240.95 in restitution.
According to court documents, Mansfield was a licensed attorney in New Mexico and Oklahoma. In 2011, she was asked to serve as trustee over supplemental needs trust (SNT) accounts for five adults with intellectual disabilities.
The SNT accounts are established to protect clients’ Medicaid and Social Security disability benefits. Mansfield was entrusted to access these accounts for the sole benefit of the client. For example, she was authorized to withdraw funds to purchase a handicapped vehicle, clothing, dance lessons, and Special Olympic fees, and to prepay funeral expenses.
However, from December 2011 through November 2017, Mansfield withdrew funds from the SNT accounts for her own personal use. She attempted to conceal her embezzlement by altering bank statements. One of the victims lost Medicaid benefits because Mansfield did not timely submit records on behalf of the client.
The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vani Singhal prosecuted the case. Mansfield was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.
The conviction of Mansfield serves as a reminder of the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions. As a licensed attorney, Mansfield was entrusted with the responsibility of protecting her clients’ interests, but instead, she chose to line her own pockets with their money.
The case highlights the need for increased oversight and regulation of attorneys who handle client funds. It also underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, particularly when those actions involve vulnerable populations such as those with intellectual disabilities.
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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