A disbarred Florida attorney, John Spencer Jenkins, has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly embezzling nearly $650,000 from a deceased client’s estate, according to the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe. Jenkins, 54, was arrested Thursday in Philadelphia after a federal indictment was unsealed, outlining his alleged scheme to defraud the estate of his former client.

Embezzlement Scheme

Jenkins, who operated Jenkins Law Firm PLLC in Fort Lauderdale, represented the client until the client’s death in October 2021. According to the indictment and disciplinary records from the Florida Bar, Jenkins had prepared the client’s will and was later appointed to administer the estate.

Prosecutors allege that Jenkins misrepresented his intentions to the heirs of the estate, advising them that funds from the estate should be deposited into his trust account for proper management and distribution. However, the indictment claims Jenkins embezzled approximately $643,000, transferring the money into his law firm’s general account for personal use.

Criminal Charges and Legal Troubles

Jenkins faces three counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering stemming from his alleged actions. The indictment is the latest in a series of legal challenges for the former attorney, who was suspended in November 2023 and disbarred in July 2024 after a Florida Bar referee found that he had misappropriated client funds.

The referee noted in an April 2024 report that Jenkins failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings and disappeared, raising additional concerns about his conduct. His disbarment followed soon after, marking the culmination of his professional downfall.

Government Response and Next Steps

While Jenkins has not yet commented on the charges, the government, represented by Zachary A. Keller of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, continues to pursue the case. Information regarding Jenkins' legal counsel has not yet been made available.

The case is U.S. v. Jenkins, case number 0:24-cr-60172, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.