RI lawyer admits $2.5M theft from clients

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -  A Cranston lawyer has admitting stealing more than $2.5 million from clients who were refinancing or buying new homes.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court disbarred Pasquale A. Scavitti III on Wednesday after his attorney said Scavitti had stolen the money from 12 homeowners.

The 46-year-old Scavitti, who handled real estate closings, took amounts ranging from about $80,000 to $490,000 in 13 transactions.

The court's chief disciplinary counsel, David Curtin, said it was the largest theft by a lawyer he'd ever seen. He also said the money appears to be gone.

Scavitti's attorney, Sean Feeney, told The Providence Journal that Scavitti is "extremely remorseful" about what his former clients are now dealing with.

He declined to comment on what happened to the money, or why Scavitti took it.

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