Flowery Branch lawyer faces up to 22 years for fraud, ID theft
Peebles was a plaintiff's lawyer who specialized in construction litigation and represented many who suffered physical injury and property damage due to mold infestations in their homes. Unbeknownst to his clients, Peebles would settle their cases, forge their signatures on the checks, and eventually convert the money to his own use. When the clients called and asked about the settlement money, Peebles would lie to them, and if necessary, pay the complaining client with settlement proceeds that belonged to his other clients.

Flowery Branch lawyer faces up to 22 years for fraud, ID theft

Atlanta Business Chronicle -

11:50 AM

A former metro lawyer who specialized in construction litigation pleaded guilty Monday in federal district court to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Charles Femery Peebles, 56, of Flowery Branch, Ga., was indicted by a Grand Jury on May 5, 2005 and was charged with nine counts of fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In total, there were more than 10 clients who were defrauded out of a total of $800,000. In his plea agreement, Peebles agreed to make full restitution to all of the victims, and the victims have recovered $220,000 to date.

Peebles was a plaintiff's lawyer who specialized in construction litigation and represented many who suffered physical injury and property damage due to mold infestations in their homes. Unbeknownst to his clients, Peebles would settle their cases, forge their signatures on the checks, and eventually convert the money to his own use. When the clients called and asked about the settlement money, Peebles would lie to them, and if necessary, pay the complaining client with settlement proceeds that belonged to his other clients.

In one instance, two victims retained Peebles in November of 2001 to litigate a claim against their contractor. Peebles settled their case during the summer of 2004 and received settlement checks. Instead of turning the proceeds over to his clients, Peebles forged his clients' signatures, and eventually converted the funds and used it to pay his own bills.

In another case, a condominium association retained Peebles in early 2004 to bring a claim against its builder for defective construction. Although Peebles settled the case and received eight checks totaling more than $700,000, he never told his client about the settlement. Instead, Peebles forged the signature of the association's president on the settlement checks without permission and eventually converted the money to pay his own bills. The investigation revealed that Peebles used the money to pay, among other things, his business expenses, the construction done on his house and his girlfriend's rent and utilities.

Peebles was disbarred by the Georgia Supreme Court on Feb. 13, 2006.

As a result of his guilty plea, he could receive a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. Sentencing for Peebles will be before U.S. District Judge Richard Story. A sentencing date has not yet been set by the court.

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