Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Boston lawyer, Patrick J. Dolan, was sentenced on Mar. 9 in federal court for defrauding two of his clients out of more than $2 million.
Dolan, 60, who lived in North Attleboro and Haverhill, received a sentence of 39 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,022,833 in restitution and a money judgment totaling $2,087,372.55. Dolan pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud in October 2025 after being charged in July 2025.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, between November 2018 and November 2024 Dolan carried out a scheme to defraud clients and others who had entrusted him with funds held in accounts under his control. The office said Dolan stole over $2 million that he was holding in escrow related to a family trust lawsuit where he represented one party. The stolen money was used for personal expenses including transfers to shell companies and payments toward mortgage, tuition, student loans, as well as other personal items and services.
The prosecution also stated that Dolan took at least $87,500 from a supplemental needs trust set up for another client and used those funds as a down payment on property in Haverhill where he later lived with his family. Authorities said Dolan made false statements about the missing funds and falsified bank statements and accounting records.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay prosecuted the case.
