A New Jersey-based attorney from Neville Law PLLC surrendered to authorities on October 23. He is accused of stealing more than $156,000 from two elderly clients in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, through a series of fraudulent transactions.
The 46 fraudulent transfers at First National Bank & Trust of Newtown
The largest portion of the alleged theft involved the estate of a woman whose mother passed away in October 2024. according to the report, the attorney managing the estate executed more than 46 unauthorized withdrawals and transfers between January and May 2025, totaling over $113,000. These transactions were consolidated at the First National Bank & Trust of Newtown.
This pattern of exploitation highlights a recurring vulnerability in estate management, where a single fiduciary holds unchecked power over liquidated assets. The theft only came to light after the client reported suspicions, triggering an investigation on October 2, 2025.. This delay between the first theft in January and the discovery in October underscores the difficulty elderly clients face in monitoring complex estate accounts.
A 76-year-old man's account drained to $26
In a second instance of alleged exploitation, a 76-year-old man granted the Neville Law PLLC attorney General Durable Power of Attorney in March 2024. As the source reported, the attorney allegedly abused this legal authority by adding himself to the client's bank account and subseqeuntly deleting the client's access. Between July 2024 and May 2025, the attorney allegedly made 26 withdrawals totaling $43,631.78, leaving the elderly man with a balance of just $26.
The use of a Durable Power of Attorney is intended to protect seniors who can no longer manage their own affairs, but in this case, it served as the primary tool for the crime. By legally inserting himself into the financial architecture of the client's life, the attorney bypassed the standard red flags that typically trigger bank fraud alerts.
A June license suspension and a gambling addiction
The 40-year-old, Texas-born attorney had already been flagged by regulatory bodies before his arrest. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court suspended his license in June, and he subsequently moved his license to inactive status after pleading to charges. The attorney reportedly disclosed a gambling addiction, which investigators believe drove the need to steal from clients to cover rent and mortgage payments.
This case mirrors a broader trend of "professional desperation," where licensed practitioners with addictions leverage their perceived prestige to target the most vulnerable populations. The transition from a professional license suspension in June to felony charges in October suggests a rapid spiral of financial instability that the attorney attempted to solve through identity theft and forgery.
The undisclosed charges from the Bucks County District Attorney
While the attorney was arraigned on October 23, the District Attorney of Bucks County has not yet released the specific details of the formal charges. The attorney is expected to face penalties under the Pennsylvania crime code specifically designed to punish those who deceive dependent adults or the elderly by disguising themselves as rightful third parties.
Several critical questions remain unanswered. first, it is unclear if the District Attorney has identified other victims, as the report notes that investigators are still looking into "future cases" that may have been compromised. Second, the source does not clarify whether the $156,000 has been recovered or if the assets were entirely lost to gambling and living expenses. Finally, the report only presents the allegations from the prosecution; the defense's specific response to the forgery and identity theft claims has not been detailed.
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