GRIM NEWS: Former Tulsa Probate Lawyer Christopher Ivor Mansfield Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $587,000
In a stunning turn of events, Christopher Ivor Mansfield, a former Tulsa County probate attorney, has pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell for embezzling an astonishing $587,000 from multiple estate accounts.
Mansfield, 38, was charged with bank fraud and money laundering, according to an information filed on September 29, 2016. The now-disbarred attorney admitted that between August 2012 and October 2015, he misappropriated funds by making unauthorized checks payable to himself, transferring funds from probate estates without authorization, and depositing checks into his business and personal accounts.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Danny C. Williams, Sr., emphasized the severity of Mansfield’s actions, stating, ‘Mr. Mansfield chose to violate and abuse his position of trust as a probate attorney.’ The admitted embezzlement affected eleven probate estates or guardianships.
At the time of the crimes, Mansfield was court-appointed in probate cases, serving as a personal representative responsible for overseeing the financial affairs of these estates. His misuse of funds was used primarily to support his drug habit and American Express credit card purchases.
Mansfield faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for bank fraud charges, along with a potential additional 10 years and $250,000 fine for unlawful monetary transaction charges. The court could also order restitution and criminal forfeiture totaling $587,030.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles McLoughlin and Catherine Depew.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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