51° CLEAR, Investigators: Manager embezzled $1.67M
Last Modified: Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 1:31 a.m.
PUNTA GORDA - A longtime office manager has been accused of embezzlement in connection with the disappearance of $1.67 million from the former law firm of Moore and Waksler in Punta Gorda.
Angela Marie Dees, 33, of Punta Gorda, was arrested Wednesday and charged with 259 felonies. Punta Gorda police detectives say Dees had deposited law firm funds into her personal bank account through wire transfers and forged checks since she was hired at the firm in 2002. The wire transfers ranged from $600 to $16,600, and the forged checks were as large as $75,000.
Her bank records indicate she spent about half a million dollars on "frivolous purchases" -- everyday expenses for family entertainment, eating at local restaurants and weekend trips, according to police Capt. Thomas Lewis.
The investigation is continuing because detectives have not traced all of the missing money, which was discovered through a financial audit when the law partnership was dissolved last summer.
Lewis said no substantial assets or investments for Dees have been found during a tedious 11/2-month inquiry that includes multiple accounts at the firm. He could not answer why any shortfalls were not found during Dees' six-year employment.
Dees and her family live in the 8500 block of Strasse Boulevard, a single-lane dirt road east of the Charlotte County Airport in a rural area that includes many undeveloped lots and a few new homes.
At the house on Wednesday, husband Dennis Dees declined to comment. He and his father live next door to each other in modest-looking homes with a few sheds and several pickups on the property, including one with a camper on the back, but there is nothing to suggest opulence.
A neighbor around the corner on Clark Drive scoffed at the notion of the Dees family doing anything extravagant. Laura Crawford said she used to baby-sit one of their three children, and that they were nice. Crawford said she and her parents sometimes run into the Dees family at IHOP.
Angela Dees remained in the Charlotte County jail on $657,000 bail. She has been charged with 129 counts of grand theft, 114 counts of wire fraud and 16 counts of writing forged checks, as well as two misdemeanor counts of petty theft. It was not clear who was representing her.
The law firm of Moore and Waksler closed at 1107 W. Marion Ave. in June, according to its Web site. The site also reads, "If you have a billing question, please call and ask for Angela."
Lewis said Dees had "some access" to the billing process at the firm.
Geri Waksler, a prominent land-use attorney in Charlotte County, said through a spokeswoman that she was advised not to comment and referred questions to her attorney, Cort Frohlich.
Frohlich, as well as Waksler's former partner, James E. Moore III, could not be reached for comment.
This story appeared in print on page BN1
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Comments
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November 20, 2008 6:23:01 am
Just goes to show you how rich these scum bag, over priced, arrogant, $250.00 per hour, fat cat law firms really are! They don't even miss $1.6 million dollars and only due to a partnership separation audit do they catch it.
November 20, 2008 7:45:36 am
darn it ncat, you took the words right out of my mouth.
How can a law firm not even miss $1.6million?
Your so right these legal thieves are charging so much, getting so much in retainers they can't even keep track of the money.
Or shall I say "THEY WERE" since the firm no longer exists.
And yes they sure are everything you said they are.
As for the suspect just going out to eat and maybe a trip or two, makes no sense.
of course investigators have not yet tracked all the money down yet.
November 20, 2008 8:22:21 am
Yea...is'nt that sad for someone to have that much money when there are people out there going hungry. Um! Anyways that lady will be going to prison for quite awhile.
November 20, 2008 9:59:03 am
You all are some pretty jealous individuals. Go to school for an additional seven years and see how much you charge for your professional services. Without charging at least $200 an hour, see how long you carry those student loans. This law firm has been in business for over 10 years (check the Division of Corporations) and has at least six attorneys working for it. I sure hope you all never need an attorney; it would be very hypocritcal of you to ask (and pay) for help.Green eye monsters speak again.
November 20, 2008 10:11:29 am
Jealous? Roflmao
I have filed all my own motions, gone to the Law Library myself, researched case law and beat attys at their own game.
Doctors go to school for alot longer and more of them offer free services to the needy ask the top firms in town here how many do pro bono and how often?
November 20, 2008 10:27:52 am
"He who is always his own counseller will often have a fool as a client."
As I knew, you guys (at least you mindsetSRQ) have had legal issues. The ones who complain about the hourly fees of attorneys, are usually caught up in some mess or another (and it appears you are often).
Lots of attorneys do pro bono work - some firms even require it. Also, there is an organization called Legal Aid (for the needy as you liked to mention).
November 20, 2008 11:21:04 am
You make a VERY good point ncat0001.
Since 2002 she had been doing this, wow! and it took 6 YEARS to find out that your missing 1.6 MILLION dollars!
For being that lax and stupid there could be an argument made that they deserve to lose that kind of money!
November 20, 2008 12:02:26 pm
1.6 million? hahahahaha
My CEO makes over 7 million a year alone.
And that is straight paycheck, not counting benefits, stock option, bonuses, Coporate expense acount, corporate Limo and Jet usage.
I think he totals around 13 million a year.
November 20, 2008 12:39:29 pm
Are u Serious??!! She was our Customer of the YEAR! She took ALL YOU CAN EaT to another level!!!and A GREAT tipper!! Maybe they'll let her serve food in jail..or maybe just Serving some time!! I bet she's real Stressed out about Representation since she robbed them!! Whose gonna represent her now? the county? maybe Ethiopia!!
November 20, 2008 12:50:18 pm
nub, the public defender's office represents her, it's a nonviolent crime, the ability to order her in addition to serving time in a minimum security facility in the state, having her make restutition is about as logical as having Madonna visit the Vatican.
Yes MyOpin,there is LEGAL AID they are so inundated with foreclosure cases, they cannot handle the work load are the big firms with the $250 an hour pinstripers offering to help?
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