In a tale that serves as a cautionary example, the Supreme Court of Florida took a decisive action by permanently disbarring a Miami attorney. This attorney, Jean Gerard Legagneur, had engaged in a heinous act of defrauding his clients of a staggering $1 million by issuing a false financial statement. The consequences of his actions were severe and long-lasting.Professor's Perspective: Lenient Punishment?
Bob Jarvis, a respected law professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Law and a court expert not directly involved in this case, expressed his views on Legagneur's punishment. He argued that given the magnitude of the charges against Legagneur, the punishment of disbarment was the only just outcome. "Legagneur admitted to defrauding multiple parties and offered no defense or explanation for his actions. Disbarment was the only appropriate course of action, and in fact, considering the lightness of his New York criminal sentence, he got off relatively easy considering the harm he caused," said Jarvis.Details of the Fraudulent Scheme
In November 2023, the Florida Bar filed a complaint against Jean Gerard Legagneur. He had earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School and had worked at two Big Law firms. Most recently, he was the managing member of GL Esquire Consulting. The complaint followed his guilty plea to one count of issuing a false financial statement in The People of the State of New York v. Jean Gerard Legagneur.It was revealed that Legagneur executed three separate Affidavits of Judgment by Confession in favor of three victims - Jordan Rhodes, Keith G. Myers, and Kathy Macias. For instance, Rhodes and his company, M&J Film Production LLC, had sought funding for a film project but lost at least $277,448 due to Legagneur and his associate, Carlos Keyes. The affidavit stated, "On or about March 31, 2016, I received $277,448 in connection with a film project titled McCabe and Little Jessie into my escrow account from M&J Film Production LLC. After the commitment deposit was made, I disbursed the money to myself, my co-defendants, and other unrelated individuals and entities. No financing was provided to the creditors, and their deposit was not returned."A similar scheme was targeted at Myers. "After Keith G. Myers wired $158,030 into the escrow account I managed, I disbursed the money to myself, the co-defendants, and other unrelated individuals and entities. No financing was provided to the creditor, and his deposit was not returned," the affidavit read.Legagneur also admitted to causing Kathy Macias and her company, JM Capital Investment LLC, to lose at least $601,970. The affidavit stated, "After the commitment deposits were made, I disbursed the money to myself, my co-defendants, and other unrelated individuals and entities. No financing was provided to the creditor, and her deposit was not returned."The Escrow Agent Decision and Its Consequences
After working for a second Big Law firm, Legagneur became an escrow agent. He described this as "the biggest mistake of my life" and it led to an eight-year nightmare. He explained, "They charged me with conspiracy. Other defendants were charged with conspiracy and larceny. But I wasn't charged with larceny because I didn't make money from these deals other than a small escrow fee. During the hearing, my lawyer sent me three documents and asked me to sign them to finish the process." He referred to the three Affidavits of Confession of Judgment."This whole experience has been extremely traumatic, and I just wanted to move on with my life. I definitely did not admit to conspiring to do anything or stealing money from anyone," he added.The actions of Jean Gerard Legagneur serve as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical conduct in the legal profession and the severe consequences that can follow when one strays from the path of integrity.
