A Massachusetts lawyer has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud charges for bilking clients out of more than $2 million, according to authorities and legal filings.
A charging document known as an information and a written plea agreement were filed Thursday in US District Court in Boston in the case against Patrick J. Dolan, 60, of North Attleboro and Haverhill.
Dolan is not in custody, and a hearing date for his expected guilty plea hasn’t been set, records show. A lawyer for Dolan didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
A statement from US Attorney Leah B. Foley’s office said Dolan allegedly fleeced clients between November 2018 and November 2024.
“Specifically, it is alleged that Dolan stole over $2 million that he was holding in escrow pending the outcome of a family trust lawsuit in which Dolan represented one of the parties,” the statement said.
Court papers said Dolan used the funds for a variety of personal expenses including relatives’ tuition and student loan payments, the purchase of a Jeep Wrangler, mortgage payments, landscaping and HVAC services, and at least $5,000 to cover “cosmetic surgery” for a family member.
A plea deal filed in the case said prosecutors will recommend incarceration within the federal guidelines for Dolan, and that the government will also seek “restitution of $2,022,460″ and other fines.
It wasn’t immediately clear how much prison time the government will seek based on the guidelines.
“Defendant agrees that all criminal monetary penalties, including special assessment, restitution, forfeiture, and/or fine imposed shall be due and payable immediately, and further agrees that any Court-ordered repayment schedule does not preclude further enforcement or collection by the United States,” said the plea agreement.
Dolan was first licensed to practice law in Massachusetts in 1993, according to the state Board of Bar Overseers website, which listed him as having “Disciplinary Proceedings Pending” as of June 30.
This story will be updated when more information is released.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.