Couple Accused of Stealing $2M From Veterans

Published November 20, 2014

A Houston couple was indicted on allegations that they conspired to steal $2 million from military veterans, MyFoxHouston.com reported.

Former lawyer Joe Phillips, 71, and Dorothy Phillips, 70, turned themselves in to authorities on Tuesday after a Houston grand jury slapped the couple with a list of charges that include conspiracy, misappropriation of a fiduciary, making materially false statements to a federal agency and tax fraud.

Joe Phillips used his clout as a lawyer to get appointed the legal guardian and fiduciary for a number of veterans deemed "incompetent," according to a Texas Attorney General's Office statement. Dorothy Phillips acted as her husband's legal assistant and office manager at his law firm.

The couple is accused of transferring money from the veterans' accounts to a personal account. The alleged scheme is believed to have run from January 2003 to February 2008.

The tax fraud charge carries a maximum potential sentence of three years in prison while every other individual offense carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

If found guilty, the Phillipses face up to a $250,000 fine and restitution.

For more on this story from MyFoxHouston.com click here

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/couple-accused-of-stealing-2m-from-veterans