A former office manager at an Ohio law firm has been accused of stealing more than $864,000 from 11 disabled veterans whose finances the firm was trusted to manage, according to federal prosecutors.
Darlene Toman, 64, faces six counts of bank fraud, six counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft, Military.com reported. Prosecutors also allege she took $77,051 from the pro bono account of Kabb Law Firm in Beachwood, where she worked.
Firm served as fiduciary for veterans
The firm focuses on elder care and acts as a fiduciary for veterans who need help handling their finances because of injuries or disabilities tied to their military service. One of the alleged victims is a veteran who received a Purple Heart after being shot in the head by a sniper in Iraq.
Checks written over nearly seven years
The indictment alleges Toman wrote checks to herself from client accounts and the firm's pro bono account between February 2018 and December 2024. Prosecutors say she spent most of the money on gambling and used some of it to pay off credit card debt.
The indictment stated that rather than help the veteran victims, the defendant used their identities to steal from their bank accounts, taking benefits allocated to them — largely benefits intended to help cover basic living costs, often while they lived with disabilities derived from injuries suffered while serving in the U.S. Armed Services.
Not guilty plea
Toman pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Monday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland and was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond.
She started at the firm in 2010 through a work release program while serving a 60-day jail sentence for stealing about $12,000 from the Lake County Probate Court. She was promoted to office manager in 2015 and held that job while the alleged scheme was underway.
