Man on Trial, Accused of Pretending to Be Lawyer
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A businessman with a history of misrepresenting his legal credentials went on trial in Alexandria yesterday on charges that he took money from unwitting clients who thought he was a lawyer. Simon Banks, 65, has been charged with 15 felony counts of larceny by false pretense and one misdemeanor count of unlawful act of practicing law, said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Elliott Casey. During the first day of trial in Alexandria Circuit Court, Casey told the jury that Banks “preys on people who trust him.” “He lies [by] telling people he is a lawyer, licensed to practice law,” Casey said in his opening statement. “He takes his clients’ money, and for most of them that is the last they will see of Simon Banks.” Banks was serving a two-year sentence in the District for contempt of court but was released accidentally and is being held without bond in Alexandria, Casey said. After the Alexandria case is completed, he will be returned to the District to finish his term there, Casey said. More : washingtonpost.com |