A federal district judge in Ft. Lauderdale has sentenced John Spencer Jenkins, a disbarred lawyer from South Florida, to 33 months in prison for misappropriating over $750,000 of his clients’ funds.
Court documents and statements during the sentencing hearing revealed that Jenkins had his clients wire money into his law firm’s Interest on Trust Account (IOTA) and general business account under the pretense of providing legal services. In one case involving an estate, Jenkins was supposed to manage asset distribution for the client’s designees but instead transferred the funds to accounts for personal use.
Judge David S. Leibowitz highlighted the need for accountability among attorneys due to their position of public trust.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami.
The FBI’s Miami office conducted the investigation, while Assistant United States Attorney Altanese Phenelus led the prosecution.
For more information, related court documents can be accessed through the District Court for the Southern District of Florida’s website or via PACER under case number 24-CR-60172-DSL.
