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Lawyer Accused of Taking Clients Money for Gambling7 April 2001HOWELL, Michigan –April 7, 2001 – As reported by the Detroit News: "A Howell attorney faces charges of embezzling more than $1 million from clients and spending it on gambling. "Michael John Burke, 55, was charged by the Michigan Attorney General's Office with one count of embezzling funds from clients. "…Armand Zeppa Sr. of Livonia, and Armand Zeppa Jr. of Howell hired Burke in August after a relative died. "Burke, who was supposed to handle the division of the value of the relative's house among several relatives, was given checks totaling about $63,000 to be placed in a trust fund. "Instead, he cashed them for his own use, according to the complaint. The complaint said Burke spent all of the money he embezzled on gambling. "He cashed checks given to him by clients or by raiding trust accounts established by his clients to pay legal fees. "When the Zeppa family pursued Burke for the money and threatened to go to police, Burke payed them back, using funds from an estate for which he was the executor. "The attorney general's office believes Burke stole at least $1.1 million from six clients between November 1999 and March of this year after an investigation by the Howell Police Department…' |