In a recent New York case, Richard Paul, the bookkeeper for the Brooklyn public administrator's office, has been charged with allegedly funneling more than $2.6 million into personal accounts from citizens who have died without wills or other estate plans. Three other suspects are also involved.
It was Paul's job to move assets from estates without beneficiaries into the Department of Finance. However, instead of funding that money to the city, he is charged with rerouting those checks to other city employees who were not authorized to receive the cash. This took place over a period of 3 years from 2008 until 2011.
Paul is charged with grand larceny and defrauding the government. The other suspects are each charged with grand larceny.
This is a good example of why you should have at the very least a will. One, do you want your life's material worth going to the state? And two, do you want it going to corrupt state officials to be used for their own personal gain? Of course not.
Please consult with a professional estate litigation Attorney as soon as possible. Gift your assets to someone you love or even to charity if you have no other beneficiaries. Don't let your hard earned assets be taken and used by strangers for things you would have never approved of.
*This blog entry was not written by an Attorney and should not be constituted as professional legal advice.