N.J. attorney arrested for escrow theft
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The Blotter
Monday, November 21, 2011
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Deirdre Przygoda, 46, of Freehold, N.J, was arrested on charges of theft and misapplication of entrusted property, both second degree crimes, Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter Warshaw, Jr. announced. Przygoda, formerly a licensed attorney, previously maintained a law practice in Freehold.
The charges are the result of an investigation undertaken by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office into the misappropriation of funds belonging to one of Przygoda’s clients. The investigation revealed that, in 2009, a homeowner in the process of refinancing her home contacted Przygoda for legal representation. In this capacity, Przygoda was given more than $237,000 in funds to be used to satisfy the homeowner’s original mortgage, and the funds were deposited into Przygoda’s attorney trust account. Przygoda failed to pay the original mortgage as required and, as a result, the homeowner now has two mortgages attached to her property. A subsequent examination of Pryzgoda’s personal and trust accounts revealed that Pryzgoda diverted the funds from her attorney trust account by issuing checks to herself for her own personal benefit.
Przygoda was arrested on Nov. 16 and was released after posting bail in the amount of $35,000 which was set by the Honorable Francis DeStefano, J.S.C. If convicted of either charge, Przygoda faces a maximum custodial sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
The case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Michael Costanzo of the Monmouth
County Prosecutor’s Office Special Prosecutions Bureau. Defense counsel has not yet entered an appearance on behalf of Przygoda.
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