Additional information about a Walnut Creek attorney suspected of stealing more than $600,000 from his law firm came to light Friday after a state court released documents revealing that Kenneth Jones had been disbarred.
Court documents maintain that Jones, a former partner with the Walnut Creek firm of Bowles & Verna, LLP, had admitted diverting money belonging to his firm to himself in a complex scheme he allegedly created to pay for a “spending problem.”
Jones faces a charge of felony grand theft by embezzlement, admitting to creating a fictitious business at a bogus address and issuing payments from a company credit card to the shell company – keeping the money and logging payments as legitimate business expenses.
Jones was found out after the law firm’s partners audited the company’s finances and discovered the missing funds. He reportedly confessed his crime when confronted by company officers and has been ordered to repay $500,000 in restitution.
Jones has not yet entered a plea to the pending felony charge. He was released from custody after posting $165,000 bail, records show, and his current hometown was not given. An attempt to reach his attorney was unsuccessful.
If he has a “spending problem” he’s making enough money to cover his “expenses.” That’s an excuse for criminal activity.
Spending… on what?
I’ve got to find another line of work.
Not exactly like stealing paper clips and pens from the supply room is it?
Just putting a little something away for retirement.
Sounds like he couldn’t control the instant gratification part of his life As Danica asked, wonder who got the lion share of the $600k’…car dealership, stores here & there, casino, local bookie, massage parlor?? or all of the above
We can only say with certainty (and for the record) that we were not the beneficiary of any ill-gotten gains!
He has embezzling problem that started with steve schillinger, world sports exchange. Embezzled a million of my divorce settelment.
Trying to get justice!!