Staff writer Chris Seward contributed to this story.
The former chairman of the state Democratic party pleaded guilty this week to one count of wire fraud and agreed to pay upward of $2 million in restitution to more than a dozen victims prosecutors say he defrauded in his legal practice.
Mike Berlon pleaded guilty Wednesday and faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. He is due to be sentenced May 6.
Berlon was indicted last year on eight counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. The guilty plea to a single charge was part of a negotiated agreement. Prosecutors said he defrauded clients and others who sought his legal advice.
An attorney based out of Grayson, Berlon gave up his law license last June.
He led the state Democratic party from 2011 to May 2013.
Prosecutors said last year that Berlon received more than $1.8 million from clients between 2008 and 2013. He was accused of using some of the money to pay an American Express bill and to repay other clients.
Then-U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said Berlon’s clients “came to him for legal help, and instead he drained their bank accounts.”
No one from the U.S. Attorney’s office would comment on the case Friday, and Berlon’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
Michael Dunham, an attorney representing one of Berlon’s victims, said his client trusted Berlon to help keep his Integrity Sports Product Group in business. According to a plea agreement, Berlon owes that client, David Weingryn, more than $215,000 in restitution.
“He’s going to be made to answer for what he did,” Dunham said. “It does seem like justice is being done, and I’m glad of that.”
Dunham said he was not sure that his client would ever see the money, but that he was glad Berlon admitted his intent to defraud people.
“It’s a moral victory,” he said. “It does seem like a moral victory is the only one we’re going to get here.”
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