Disbarred Florida Attorney John Spencer Jenkins Headed To Federal Prison For 33 Months For Embezzling Money From Clients

A Federal Court judge in Ft. Lauderdale sentenced disbarred Florida attorney John Spencer Jenkins to 33 months in prison. Jenkins had been found guilty of misusing more than three quarters of a million dollars of his clients’ money.  Plea documents and information indicate Jenkins’ clients wired funds into his law firm’s Interest on Trust Account (“IOTA”) business account and general business account.

The FBI alleges Jenkins was entrusted with $643,399.35 in proceeds from a client’s estate before disappearing.

Spencer’s Scam

The former Florida attorney handled the will for William Walters who died on October 18, 2021, at age 89. The will split Walters’ estate between sister Shirley Dennison, Larry Corbin and Walters’ nieces, Cindy Brown and Kelly Jarrell.

Corbin told the Florida Bar:

“I have not been able to reach Mr. Jenkins since June 7, 2023. My complaint is lack of professional service in a timely manner as well as a lack of communication. I have tried on several occasions to communicate by phone and text.”

When the Bar asked Corbin for correspondence with Jenkins, Corbin replied:

“I have included text messages for the last six months. Jenkins would not ever answer the office or cellphone. No messages could be left because the mailbox was always full. I have all texts dating back to October 2021, if needed.”

Bar auditor Carl Totaro found that a total of $637,813.75 deposits for Walters’ estate came into Jenkins’ trust account. But as of September 29, 2023, the trust account had only $144,602.82. Jenkins’ operating account had only $15,544.07.

The money was supposed to be distributed to the client’s heirs. Jenkins deposited the funds into his firm’s Interest on Trust Account. However, he used the funds for his own personal gain. He laundered the funds through another account in the process.

John Spencer Jenkins Goes Dark

Jenkins disappeared shortly after a Broward court said he owed a former client $234,000 and $452,000 from a third. Jenkins stopped responding to both those clients and a third.

When the Florida Bar inquired about the first two clients, he ghosted them, He didn’t file paperwork in September 2023 to keep Jenkins Law Firm registered as doing business in Florida. He also disconnected his mobile phone number. In addition, he disconnected number to his New York office. The Florida Bar suspended Jenkins in November 2023. They want to know why he is not answering Florida Bar inquiries regarding his abandonment of clients Stealth Supply and Peter Mullins after collecting $686,000 from the two clients. 

Jenkins was charged with three counts of wire fraud. He got lucky. He was facing a potential 30+ year sentence.

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