NEW YORK – Disbarred attorney John Ferdinand Murphy, III of Hopewell Junction was sentenced Wednesday in Dutchess County Court to four to 12 years in state prison for embezzling more than $450,000 from several incapacitated and vulnerable individuals.
After being appointed as a guardian and trustee, the 68-year-old Murphy drained their trust accounts and issued checks to himself, his company, and his family members.
Murphy pled guilty to grand larceny and scheme to defraud back in March.
In handing down the prison term, Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin told Murphy “I thought about the mercy that you gave your victims and I couldn’t find any – and I will have none on you.”
As outlined in the indictment, for nearly seven years, Murphy abused his position as an attorney and took advantage of vulnerable and disabled individuals, including those for whom he was appointed to serve as guardian or trustee.
Murphy issued more than $350,000 in checks from the victims’ accounts for his own use. In one situation, while serving as trustee for an 89-year-old family friend he stole more than $80,000 and failed to pay the victims tax and utility bills, resulting in the client’s utilities being shut off on several occasions and a foreclosure proceeding on her home.
In an attempt to conceal the foreclosure, Murphy sought a seller for the home and collected a $10,000 down payment, which he deposited into his own bank account.
The home was never conveyed to the seller and Murphy kept the down payment money.
With the assistance of the New York City Bar Justice Center, the victim has been able to remain in her home
