Lawyer charged in fraud case; Alleged scam close to $2M.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Craig S. Semon

OXFORD - An Oxford lawyer who was named in a civil lawsuit two weeks ago in connection with the alleged embezzlement of nearly $2 million from a client from Ireland, has been formally charged with wire fraud for allegedly misappropriating the money.

Raymond A. Desautels III of 57 Millbury Road is accused of embezzling $1,990,000 from the client trust account that he maintained at Hometown Bank. FBI Special Agent Albert D. Lamoreaux filed the criminal complaint against Mr. Desautels Thursday.

The client, Kevin Phelan of Hollywood, Ireland, allegedly was planning to use the money to buy a commercial real estate property in Coudersport, Pa., with Mr. Desautels acting as the closing lawyer for the transaction.

Although he has not been arrested, Mr. Desautels has been issued a summons to appear in federal court at a date to be determined, said Christina DiIorio-Sterling of the U.S. attorney's office in Boston.

Between Jan. 25 and 28, Mr. Desautels allegedly disbursed $1,940,000 from the client trust account.

According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Desautels - who graduated from St. John's High School in Shrewsbury and is listed as an Oxford Little League coach on his Web site - knew the trust money had been provided to him in his capacity as the closing lawyer for the purchase and sale of the property.

Mr. Desautels said he made the disbursements at the request of Allen Seymour of 23 Manor Lane according to the complaint.

On Feb. 8, Mr. Seymour was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers as he allegedly tried to leave the country on a private jet with his wife, five children, family dog and $1.3 million (allegedly belonging to Mr. Phelan) concealed in brown paper and plastic bags hidden in his luggage.

Mr. Seymour has been charged with wire fraud and interstate transportation of property stolen, converted and taken by fraud. He is being held in the federal detention center in Miami. A detention hearing is slated for Wednesday in Florida, and he is then to be extradited to Massachusetts, Ms...