Identity Theft

An Ohio lawyer convicted of identity theft was suspended by the Ohio Supreme Court for two years without credit for time served after his interim suspension. He had attended law school ten years after college. He had a number of debts including support of two children. While working at a Citibank, he "came up with a plan to use his position to take advantage of information on bank customers to steal money." He opened a bank account in a customer's name, applied for a credit card in that name, changed the customer's address to a vacant apartment and had checks sent to that address. After stealing over $1,200, he was discharged and prosecuted. He served a prison term and now works in a delicatessen. Two judges dissented, favoring an indefinite suspension "making reentry [to law practice]conditioned on proven worthiness." (Mike Frisch)