Joseph Richard Rossie, 62, pleaded guilty to the court on two counts of theft of property over $60,000. Rossie was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each count, to be served concurrently. Rossie is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on March 15. Rossie has made restitution as part of the settlement of civil lawsuits filed by the victims.
According to the statement of facts read in court, between December 17, 1999 and August 9, 2007 Rossie took money from the account of client Darrelle Miller, without the victim’s consent, and transferred the money into accounts in which Rossie controlled. Between August 1, 1994 and June 14, 2007, Rossie also took money from the account of client Phoebe Copeland without the victim’s consent and transferred it into accounts he controlled. Rossie purchased property, antiques, and investments with some of the money taken from the clients’ accounts. Rossie was an attorney with the law firm Rossie, Luckett, Parker & Rider PC when these crimes were committed.
“Mr. Rossie stole a significant amount of money from two clients. As an attorney, he violated their trust for his own personal gain,” said District Attorney Gibbons.
Rossie is the former law partner of attorney John Parker, who pleaded guilty in 2007 to five counts of theft of property over $60,000 and one count of theft over $10,000. Parker is serving a 22 year sentence in prison.
This case was handled by D.A.’s White Collar Crime Unit.