Thomas M. Murtha, a former attorney who operated the Maher &Â Murtha LLC practice in Bridgeport, was charged in a federal criminal complaint with wire fraud. It is related to his alleged theft of more than $900,000 from five of his former clients.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Deirdre M. Daly said he was arrested on April 5 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris in Bay City, Michigan. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
Murtha, a Newtown resident, is accused of making materially false statements related to purported real estate investments that resulted in one client giving him $600,000. He is also charged with retaining funds provided by clients for real estate transactions and with using money allegedly designated for commercial property investments to buy himself a $725,000 home in Birmingham, Mich.
Murtha resigned from the bar last September after three grievance complaints were filed against him. If convicted, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
