N.J. lawyer who robbed Pennsylvania bank is disbarred

Steven R. French

JERSEY CITY -- An attorney convicted of robbing a bank in Pennsylvania is one of two Hudson County lawyers disbarred last year, according to the recently released New Jersey Supreme Court's 2017 New Jersey Attorney Ethics Report.

Steven R. French was disbarred on Jan. 18, 2017 as a result of his Aug. 8, 2013 conviction for robbing the bank in Wayne County, according to the report which says it is a "commission of a criminal act that reflects adversely on a lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.

A local press report says responding officers connected French to the bank robbery by following footprints in the snow to a nearby tattoo parlor owned by French's brother. French, who authorities said stole $2,420, later pleaded guilty.

The report lists Hudson County attorney James P. Madden as being disbarred by the Attorney Ethics Board on Jan. 4, 2017 for having an improper business transaction with a client, failure to disburse funds to a client, making false statements to the disciplinary authority and other violations of professional conduct.

Hudson County-based attorney Robert B. Davis is listed as having been suspended for 12 months effective Feb. 27, 2017. Attorneys Sean R. Sexton and Keith O. Moses, also based in Hudson County, were censured in 2017, the report says.

Local attorneys reprimanded in 2017 are Francis Charles Babcock, James John Callahan, Alfio S. Lanuto, Ihab Awad Ibraham and Heli Marjo Myyrylainen. Jonathan A. Goodman was admonished last year, the report says.

Attorneys temporarily suspended last year were Donald J. Meliado Jr. and Keith O. Moses, the report says.

Attorney Victor G. Sison was reinstated last year, the report says.

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