Former Wheaton attorney facing prison for stealing from clients
A former Wheaton attorney has pleaded guilty to theft and now faces between four and 15 years in prison for bilking the estates of four former and three current clients from July 2011 through January 2015.
Robert Beck, 50, of the 26W100 block of Embden Lane, pleaded guilty Thursday in exchange for prosecutors dropping charges that could have resulted in a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
Assistant State's Attorney Diane Michalak said Beck used a "stealing from Peter to pay Paul" scheme, in which he would take money from a client's trust for the estate and use it for personal and business expenses. He then would steal money from another client's trust and use that money to pay back the estate of his previous victims.
In all, she said he stole about $1,262,210 in that part of the scheme.
She said he also stole $822,168 for his own personal use.
"Records show that (Beck) was using the stolen money to pay off his car loan, buy furniture and housewares, make payments on a boat and remodel his kitchen and generally live beyond his means," Michalak said. "(Beck) and his wife averaged spending approximately $18,000 per month in 2011, approximately $20,000 per month in 2012, $28,000 per month in 2013 and over $29,000 per month in the first quarter of 2014 before he was caught."
Michalak said Beck, when interviewed by investigators, admitted to the thefts because "he and his wife had a spending problem."
The scheme came to light when a bank investigator became suspicious in April 2014 and contacted Will County authorities who in turn contacted the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission disbarred Beck in September 2016 because he "intentionally misappropriated funds in excess of $700,000 from two elderly clients, one of whom suffered from dementia, and an additional $189,500 from the estate of a third client following that client's death."
Beck is next due in court on Oct. 26, at which time a sentencing date will be set.