Fayette County Attorney Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Clients

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on February 9, 2022, John William “JW” Eddy, age 39, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for misappropriating funds from clients of his law practice between 2016 and 2020.

According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Eddy ran a private law practice, Eddy Law Office. As an attorney representing members of the public in the practice of law, Eddy was required to maintain a trust account for client funds, also known as an Interest on Lawyer Trust Account or “IOLTA.” This account was to be used for the securing of client funds, such as proceeds from legal settlements, fees advanced for services not yet performed, or money for court fees.  At his guilty plea before United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, Eddy admitted that between 2016 and 2020 he misappropriated $242,975.89 of client funds entrusted to him. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for wire fraud is 20 years’ imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

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