Lawyer swindled more than $1 Million dollars from clients and investors
Charleston, W.Va. - Lawyer Harold “Hal" Albertson, 65, was sentenced today in Charleston, West Virginia, by United States District Court Judge Thomas E. Johnston to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than a million dollars in restitution to former clients, investors, and the Internal Revenue Service. Albertson previously pleaded guilty to evading over $100,000 in federal taxes. As part of his plea agreement, Albertson also admitted that he lured clients into investing money with him by promising a high rate of return. Albertson never paid the clients the high rate of return. Instead of investing their money, he used it to pay his own debts. Albertson admitted he cashed clients’ checks and used the proceeds to repay someone else.
This case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police and the Internal Revenue Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
