The complexity and significance of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) in supporting businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic turmoil have also presented opportunities for fraudulent activities, a truism exposed in a recent incident involving a disbarred attorney from the state of Washington.
Darlene Baker, who has also been known as Darlene Piper, from Port Orchard, Washington, has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to enforcement officers relating to the illegal acquisition of pandemic relief benefits. This information was recently disclosed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
This is not Baker’s first encounter with the law. Earlier in March 2022, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding clients and friends as part of a prolonged scheme, making inappropriate use of her credentials as an attorney specializing in wills, trusts, and the probate of estates. According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, her illegal activities included the theft of a significant bequest intended for a children’s hospital and another large sum stolen from a friend.
Before her sentencing, Washington State Bar Association disciplinary records revealed that Baker had resigned in lieu of discipline in early 2020. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the legal profession’s ethical obligations and the severe repercussions for those who betray these responsibilities.
Visit Law.com to learn more about this case.