CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A suspended South Carolina attorney has been charged with taking $450,000 from two clients.
David A. Collins, 55, of Charleston, has been charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent for taking money from a real estate partnership that rents to low-income people in North Carolina, The Post and Courier of Charleston (https://bit.ly/2rTfKIx) reported.
Collins said at a bond hearing Thursday he is working to repay the former clients.
“This is something that’s been going on for almost a year now and we’ve finally gotten to the point where these gentlemen have pressed criminal charges against me, and I understand that,” Collins said.
Joseph Walters said he and his business partner, Tom Taylor, paid Collins $450,000 in February 2016 to settle foreclosure lawsuits involving properties they own. They each paid $225,000.
After four months waiting for settlement documents, Collins told them he had taken the money, Walters said.
A North Charleston Police Department report says Collins told investigators he invested the money in a business in Georgia.
Walters said Collins has repaid $63,000.
The South Carolina Supreme Court suspended Collins in July 2016.
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Information from: The Post and Courier, https://www.postandcourier.com
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