Wayne County Lawyer Stole Funds From Dead Client; Pleads Guilty

GROSSE POINTE PARK, MI — A Grosse Pointe Park lawyer pleaded guilty Wednesday for stealing funds from a dead client that were intended for the Michigan Humane Society, Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

Anthony Semaan, 64, of Grosse Pointe Park, pleaded guilty as charged to embezzlement $50,000 to $100,000, which carries a 15-year felony. His conviction will be reported to the State Bar of Michigan, according to a news release.

"Older individuals who use professionals for estate planning should be able to rely on those professionals to follow the law and make sure the money is distributed in accordance’s with their wishes," Nessel said. "When those professionals misappropriate those funds, my department stands ready to hold them accountable."

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Semaan drafted his client's trust in 2011, who later passed away in 2013. Semaan was responsible for distributing 50% of his dead client's assets to Michigan Humane Society after all other expenses were paid, according to the news release.

However, Semaan never provided the charity with a notice of their interest in the trust or with the 50% disbursement. Instead, he placed a total of $262,732.68 into his lawyer’s trust/escrow account and distributed two payments to individuals named in the trust, the news release said.