License Surrender For Felony Conviction

The Georgia Supreme Court has accepted the license surrender of an attorney who was convicted of stealing over a quarter of a million dollars in entrusted client funds.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on the arrest:

Kristen Richbourg, 37, was arrested April 4 [2013] and charged with forgery and theft by conversion, Fulton County jail records show. She remained in jail Wednesday and was being held on $100,000 bond, according to booking records.

Richbourg was arrested after a former client reported the alleged theft to Atlanta police.

“He had requested documents from the attorney to prepare his taxes,” Sgt. Paul Cooper told Channel 2 Action News. “When she sent him the documents, some of the numbers didn’t add up.”

Detectives traced the money to places around town, including the W Hotel, the Pink Pony and Bench Warmers, Cooper told Channel 2. Money from the client’s trust fund may have funded Richbourg’s wedding, he said.

Richbourg was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in November 2000, online records show. She is currently an active member in good status, but it was not immediately known what impact her arrest would have on her status.

Richbourg has several prior arrests on drug and theft charges in both Fulton and DeKalb counties, jail records show.

The court (as it does in such circumstances) noted that a voluntary surrender of license is "tantamount to disbarment."  (Mike Frisch)