SEMINOLE, Fla. – A Seminole lawyer was arrested on a number of charges of revenue laundering and grand theft after stealing much more than $840,000 from more than 15 particular personal injury victims, investigators say.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said for the duration of a news meeting Monday afternoon that PCSO’s economic crimes device arrested Christopher Michael Reynolds, 44. He stated Reynolds was running a individual injury regulation business in Seminole, focusing on victims who ended up searching for support.
Booking photograph for Christopher Reynolds. Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Business.
“They’re certified to observe law, they have bought the packing containers checked, they have got the qualifications, they have acquired the trustworthiness that goes with that, and they’re really just a thief who is ripping them off,” Sheriff Gualtieri explained.
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The moment the particular injuries victims retained Reynolds as their lawyer, he would settle their situations with insurance companies, but failed to spend the victim’s medical bills or supply the victims their settlement dollars, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office environment reported.
Detectives said the Seminole law firm would get the settlement cash from insurance policy suppliers for his possess gain.
Picture of Christopher Reynolds. Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office environment.
Sheriff Gualtieri said investigators ended up notified in Oct 2022 by one particular of the victims who experienced been represented by Reynolds right after they had been wounded in a motor vehicle accident. She mentioned Reynolds abruptly stopped speaking with them and under no circumstances paid their health care bills or been given compensation.
The victim discovered out that her circumstance was settled months prior from the insurance plan corporation, which led to her getting in contact with the sheriff’s business office.
Financial crimes detectives claimed they also identified out the Florida Bar been given numerous complaints about Reynolds and ended up conducting their own investigation into systemic theft by the attorney.
Image of Reynolds’ regulation business. Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Workplace.
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Detectives with the sheriff’s office environment claimed they located 16 full victims of Reynolds and mentioned he stole far more than $840,000 combined. The Florida Supreme Court issued an emergency suspension order on Reynolds’ Florida license to follow regulation back in December 2022, the sheriff mentioned.
Detectives believe a part of the stolen funds was getting made use of to get drugs as properly as pornography and prostitutes.
Sheriff Gualtieri claimed they are continuing to examine the scenario and do believe there are much more victims of Reynolds who have yet to arrive forward.
Everyone with info on the circumstance or people who feel they might be a victim are questioned to contact Detective Kakalow at (727) 582-6786.
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