Massachusetts attorney who allegedly embezzled $620,000 from relatives with disabilities pleads guilty

A local attorney who allegedly embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from relatives with disabilities and also millions from companies has agreed to plead guilty Lexington lawyer David Smerling was charged by the feds in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Massachusetts casualties including two of his own relatives Smerling was previously indicted in January on charges of embezzling from a business partner The alleged multi-million-dollar embezzlement that Mr Smerling was originally charged with was unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg Massachusetts U S Attorney Leah Foley reported The present day s charges allege that Mr Smerling also preyed on a family member with special requirements and another with dementia allegedly stealing money these casualties needed for their own care Foley added Smerling allegedly embezzled more than million from three companies where he worked as a bookkeeper He s accused of transferring funds from the victim companies into a separate bank account that he controlled before moving the money to bank accounts in his own name or directly from the companies accounts to bank accounts in his own name Smerling allegedly concealed his scheme by changing the mailing address on sufferers bank statements to his home address and refusing to share the online banking password for the casualties accounts Then Smerling allegedly embezzled more than from a trust established for the benefit of a relative with special demands for which Smerling served as the trustee Smerling allegedly transferred trust funds to bank accounts he controlled before sending the funds to bank accounts in his wife s name or using the funds to pay for personal expenses Smerling concealed his scheme by making lulling payments to the beneficiary so he would not discover the trust had been depleted He also allegedly embezzled more than from a relative with dementia for whom Smerling served as the financial power of attorney Smerling allegedly transferred funds from the victim s accounts to accounts he controlled used a credit card in the victim s name for personal purchases and took out a loan in the victim s name To conceal this scheme Smerling allegedly misrepresented the purpose of the transfers to the financial institutions in which the victim s accounts were held For anyone with elderly and vulnerable loved ones these are frightening accusations disclosed Kimberly Milka acting special agent in charge of the FBI Boston division David Smerling allegedly betrayed the trust of his casualties and took full advantage embezzling from them to line his own pockets while trying to cover up his crimes The FBI will never stop working to protect the general from criminals like this and we re gratified to see him brought to justice Related Articles Lexington outlasts Milford in marathon boys volleyball match American Revolution th celebrations begin in Lexington Concord Photos Boston Marathon th celebrations converge Society safety at the forefront Lexington and Concord th events What to know before you go Concord Lexington prepare for th anniversary of American Revolution foreseen Trump visit Smerling has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of wire fraud two counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft