Disbarred Parsippany Attorney Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Practice of Law
Published on August 19, 2013
August 19, 2013
DISBARRED PARSIPPANY ATTORNEY PLEADS GUILTY TO
UNLAWFUL PRACTICE OF LAW
Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that John J. Montefusco, Sr., 72 years old, of Parsippany, New Jersey, pled guilty today to the Unlawful Practice of Law.
In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted to meeting with a client who was facing criminal charges in Sussex County and accepted money as a retainer for legal services between December 2012 and April 24, 2013. Defendant had been disbarred by consent by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in June of 2009 as a result of a prosecution by the United States Attorney.
Under the terms of this plea agreement to the Third Degree charge, the State will recommend that the defendant be sentenced to probation and 180 days in the Morris County Correctional Facility.
Supervising Assistant Prosecutor/SDAG Robert Weber represented the State in the plea agreement.
The Honorable Mary Gibbons Whipple, J.S.C. presided over the plea. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2013 before the Honorable Stuart A. Minkowitz, P.J.Cr.
The defendant previously pled guilty on February 13, 2008 to Mail Fraud in Federal Court for actions he had taken as the Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board Attorney. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, he admitted that he gave his official assistance to a developer in return for benefits to him and his family that included discounted purchase prices on houses that allowed the family members to quickly resell the properties at substantial profit.
Acting Prosecutor Knapp thanks the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, the Hopatcong Police Department, the Roxbury Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Professional Standards Unit who assisted in the investigation and resolution of this matter.
Any inquiries can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor/SDAG Thomas Zelante at 973-285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.