Paralegal Sentenced to 30 Months for Embezzling Over $2 Million from Law Firm Clients

FraudPhoto byPhoto by Tima Miroshnichenko

Jennifer Elaine Roarke, 55, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for embezzling more than $2 million from clients of the law firm where she was employed as a paralegal, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The announcement was made in conjunction with Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina.

According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, Roarke, who is also known as Jennifer Claveria, was employed by a Hickory-based law firm from 2007 to 2021, serving as an assistant and paralegal. Her responsibilities included opening mail, depositing checks into trust bank accounts, and processing invoices for the firm's clients. These clients' trust accounts were part of the firm's administration and management services.

Court records reveal that between 2015 and September 2021, Roarke carried out an embezzlement scheme involving at least 190 fraudulent and unauthorized bank wires, amounting to over $2 million. The funds were transferred from the trust accounts of the law firm's clients to bank accounts controlled by Roarke. The embezzled money was used to pay for personal expenses, including mortgage, car, and credit card payments, as well as to support an extravagant lifestyle.

Roarke pleaded guilty to wire fraud on December 1, 2023. She is currently out on bond and will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon the designation of a federal facility.

U.S. Attorney King expressed gratitude to the FBI for their diligent investigation of the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.

This sentencing marks the conclusion of a lengthy investigation and prosecution, bringing a measure of justice to the victims of Roarke's fraudulent activities.