PAUL HARRIS

WHEELING — A Wheeling attorney — whose license was suspended earlier this year — was found guilty Thursday in federal court on 29 counts of fraud and money laundering, according to Matthew Harvey, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Paul Harris, 62, now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the mail and wire fraud counts and up to 10 years in prison for each of the unlawful monetary transaction counts.

The jury heard testimony that Harris used client funds for personal expenses, such as the purchase of his home and paying for his law office, without the clients’ permission. Harris received and moved funds from his client trust account to his law firm operating account, at times using one client’s money to pay funds he had misappropriated from other clients.

“Attorneys are meant to relieve clients of their stressors,” Harvey said. “Mr. Harris preyed on vulnerable clients who trusted him with their money and legal matters, betraying that trust through unethical acts. I commend the jury for their verdict and for delivering justice to the victims.”

The government is seeking a monetary judgment, restitution for the victims, as well as the forfeiture of the property of Harris Law Offices in Wheeling.

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in March suspended Harris’ law license for two years for seven violations of the state’s Rules of Professional Conduct after a former client accused him of taking $50,000 to represent the client in a criminal case, but never appearing on his behalf.

According to the indictment, Harris was admitted to the West Virginia State Bar in 1987.