A former trusts and estates lawyer who worked at Barclay Damon until he was found to have been embezzling from clients and the firm has pleaded guilty to federal fraud and tax charges Wednesday.

Albert Hessberg III

Albert Hessberg III pleaded guilty in Albany federal court to one count each of mail fraud, wire fraud and filing a false tax return, prosecutors said. He agreed in his plea deal not to appeal any sentence of 11 years and three months or less, court records show.

Hessberg, 64, admitted to stealing money from client trust accounts, billing for work that he didn't actually do, and taking fee payments that were properly owed to the firm for himself. He has paid back some $1.2 million to Barclay Damon, “as partial restitution and for distribution to his victims,” according to his plea agreement.