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From Lawyer to Launderer: Texas Attorney Pleads Guilty to Fraud

In one scheme, the attorney opened trustee accounts with client funds and simply moved the money to his own accounts, rather than using the funds for the benefit of the trust, prosecutors say.

October 06, 2023 at 02:17 PM

3 minute read

Legal Ethics and Attorney Discipline

Adolfo Pesquera

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What You Need to Know

Christopher Pettit, a disbarred San Antonio attorney, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.
Pettit used his law firm to solicit clients into investing or entrusting him with property he instead diverted for his own use.
Some funds went into a Ponzi scheme and up to $65 million is believe to have been taken.

Former San Antonio attorney Christopher John Pettit pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to wire fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, from October 2019 to July 2022, Pettit made numerous misrepresentations that persuaded clients to deposit money with his firm, Chris Pettit and Associates.

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