A former Portland attorney pleaded guilty Monday to several felony charges for defrauding her clients and using the money to fund a “lavish lifestyle” of overseas vacations, home remodels, and other expenses.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon said that 56-year-old Lori E. Deveny pleaded guilty to mail, bank, and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and filing a false tax return.
Court documents say that Deveny “systematically stole funds” from insurance proceeds that were intended for her clients from April of 2011 through May of 2019. She was accused of forging clients’ signatures on settlement documents she sent to insurance companies, making unauthorized transfers, and blaming the insurance companies for delays in settlements.
“Deveny used the proceeds of her scheme to pay for personal credit card and loan payments, numerous big game hunting trips to Africa and the resulting taxidermy costs, other vacations, her husband’s photography business, home remodeling, expensive cigars, and other expenses associated with a lavish lifestyle,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
In May of 2019, a federal grand jury returned a 24-count indictment charging Deveny with the crimes.
She will be sentenced on November 23, 2022.
As part of her plea agreement, she will also need to pay restitution to her victims.
More from U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon:
“Mail and wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years. All three offenses carry maximum fines of $250,000 or twice the gross gains or losses resulting from the offense and three years’ supervised release. Bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and five years’ supervised release. Filing a false tax return is punishable by up to three years in prison, a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gains or losses resulting from the offense, and one year of supervised released. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by up to two years in prison running consecutive to any other carceral sentence imposed.”