| For Immediate Release Case # 10HF2196
December 13, 2010 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH STEALING $117,000
FROM WIDOW AFTER LATE HUSBAND’S
LIFE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT
SANTA ANA – An attorney has been charged with stealing $117,000 from a widow after representing her in a case regarding her late husband’s life insurance policy. The money had been deposited into a client trust account as mandated by law. Redmond Peter McAneny, 55, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of grand theft by embezzlement with a sentencing enhancement for property damage over $65,000. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison. McAneny was arrested today by Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Investigators. The People will request he be held on $250,000 bail at his arraignment in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The date and time are to be determined.
In 2008, McAneny is accused of representing widow Debbie S. in securing her late husband’s life insurance proceeds. The victim and her husband had been going through a divorce and he had changed the terms of his trust before his death, leaving it unclear if his wife or son would receive his life insurance benefits. A settlement was reached to divide the insurance policy in half, and a check for over $117,000 was issued to a trust fund account for Debbie S. on July 10, 2008.
On July 15, 2008, after depositing the check into his client trust fund account, McAneny is accused of stealing the $117,000 from Debbie S. and depleting the trust account by writing himself numerous checks with no reference to any case. McAneny is accused of failing to pay the victim any of her settlement.
This case was investigated by the OCDA and State Bar of California.
Deputy District Attorney Lynda Fernandez of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
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