BRIDGEPORT – A Lawrence, New York, man pleaded guilty to fraud in Bridgeport federal court on May 28 stemming from his embezzlement of more than $500,000 from a trust created by a person who died in 2022.
David Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, special agent in charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, announced that Edward Miller, 70 waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty. According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller was an attorney licensed to practice law in New York. In December 2014, an individual, identified in court documents as “M.P.” established a trust for the purpose of managing certain real property, including a commercial building that M.P. owned in New Canaan.
Miller pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Miller has previously paid restitution of $509,372.82 as part of a settlement of a separate civil lawsuit filed by the victims.
Miller is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 13.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Edwards was named as the trustee for the trust and was directed to open a trust bank account to manage the finances of the real property in the M.P. Trust, including depositing rental income from the commercial building into the trust account, paying costs associated with the management of the building, and distributing funds to M.P. Miller was also responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the building in the trust. The trust provided that Miller would be paid 5% of total monthly rents collected and any agreed-upon commissions for new tenant leases and renewals.
According to court documents, between approximately February 2016 and September 2022, Miller embezzled more than $500,000 from the M.P. Trust by writing and negotiating unauthorized checks from the trust to himself, his law practice, and to his relatives for his own benefit. He also made unauthorized withdrawals and transfers from the M.P. Trust bank account for his own benefit. After M.P. died in 2022, Miller made false representations and promises to M.P.’s beneficiaries about the identification, whereabouts, and disbursement of the trust’s assets.
