FORT MYERS, Fla. — A former Florida attorney was arrested in Michigan Tuesday afternoon after stealing roughly $101,000 in insurance settlement proceeds from victims between April 2019 and July 2020.
According to officers, Stephen Jones represented victims in a private damage matter and entered into Contingency Fee Arraignment, regardless of understanding the victims had already secured over $101,000 in settlement proceeds with no help. Jones would accumulate the cash from the victims for medical invoice funds and different negotiations.
Jones would then steal the settlement cash by way of a number of withdrawals, transfers and Venmo funds to himself. Jones allegedly didn’t use the cash for illustration in the private damage matter, however as a substitute for private use.
The Michigan Sheriff’s Office discovered Jones in Troy, Michigan, the place he was arrested and extradited to Lee County.
Jones faces expenses of scheme to defraud and grand theft over $100,000.