Former Adoption Attorney Charged With Wire Fraud

Steven G. Dubin, 64, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, was charged in an Indictment^[1] with three counts of wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

According to the Indictment, Dubin offered services to clients seeking to adopt children. After he submitted his resignation from the Pennsylvania bar, Dubin allegedly failed to inform some clients and prospective clients that he would soon be disbarred. Moreover, after he was disbarred and could no longer accept any new retainer fees, Dubin allegedly continued to accept new retainer fees and represented himself to be an attorney licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.

According to the Indictment, after clients fired Dubin as their attorney, Dubin falsely promised clients that he would return their remaining retainer fees that he falsely claimed were being held in escrow. In some cases, Dubin allegedly never returned any retainer fees.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 60 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $750,000 fine, and a $300 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vineet Gauri.