Lawyer Scams Vets, Gets Busted, Pleads
In The Inferno, Dante reserves a special place in his vision of hell for those who commit fraud and treachery. He assigns them the worst punishments in hell: the innermost two circles.
I have to say that I agree with Dante. And in my book, it’s doubly bad when the victim of fraud or treachery is helpless, due to either age or infirmity. So let’s just say I really don’t like those who defraud or betray aged or seriously disabled veterans – particularly when they’ve been appointed to a position of special responsibility and trust.
Yet as Jonn reminded us a few weeks ago such treachery happens with disturbing regularity. People appointed to look after aged or seriously disabled veterans’ finances steal from them all the time. IMO the VA needs to do a better job in selecting those it appoints to look after the financial matters of veterans.
But sometimes one of these treacherous, thieving bastards gets nailed. And when that happens it brings a smile to my face.
I’m smiling today.
It seems an unscrupulous attorney in Houston was preying on veterans. He was acting as fiduciary for some aged and/or seriously disabled vets; his wife was in on the scam. They were diverting at least some of those vets’ funds for their own use.
They got caught. And yesterday, Joe B. Philips plead guilty in Federal court to conspiracy to make false statements, misappropriation by a fiduciary, and signing a false income tax return. His wife, Dorothy Philips, plead guilty to conspiracy and making a false statement on an income tax return.
Joe’s facing up to 13 years in prison; Dorothy is facing up to 8 years. And I doubt they’ll get to share a cell.
The Philips are somewhat aged themselves – in their 70s, to be precise. You know what? I don’t care. I still hope the judge gives each of them the maximum allowable sentence.
That would really make me smile.
Category: Legal, Shitbags, Veterans Issues
Betrayal most foul.
I am all for hard labor in a Gulag because of the nature of their crimes.
I don’t understand how the people tasked with providing services to the disabled/elderly veteran community don’t understand what an honor they have been given. It’s a chance for the civilian sector to actually pay back with care and proper direction the sacrifice and effort the veterans have given the rest of us with their service.
Dante has it right, when you dishonor yourself with fraud and treachery against those who would have died for you joining Judas in eternal agony is indeed appropriate if a little mild.
Let them die behind bars. Screw ’em.
Oh, you guys aren’t pissed off. You only think you are. When you read the Houston Chronical story that first related Mr. and Mrs. Slime, Esq., THEN you will be pissed.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Married-VA-guardians-accused-of-stealing-from-1715300.php
and per the Chronicle this morning the actual sentencing date is December, I believe I read? So between now and then Phillips is more or less free on bond. He blames VA for the lack of oversight allowing him to do this – like he woudn’t be a lying crooked asshole if someone had been watching.
Those two are nothing more than ass matter….
Just the 99 percent of lawyers giving the other 1 percent a bad name…(kidding, sort of.)
This happens to senior citizens, also, usually by a trusted family member. These people make hyenas and jackals look nice.
Glad to know that the thieves are senior citizens themselves and have to q spend long time — possibly very long — in a prison with other unpleasant people surrounding them.
30 months that lapsed between the time the thefts were first detected in November 2007 and when federal charges were filed in June
That was from the Houston Chronicle story in 2010. WHY THE FUCK DO THESE ASSHATS STILL HAVE THEIR LAW LICENSES?
NHSparky: I’m not positive, but I think most states hold off on disbarring lawyers until after they’ve been convicted if they’re pending trial or being tried, in case they’re acquitted or the charges are later dropped.
If that’s the case, this better be the fastest ethics hearing in the history of the Texas Bar.