Debt collection attorney pleads guilty to embezzlement (UPDATE)

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A former West Allis debt collection attorney who admitted to stealing more than $780,000 from his clients has pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

Randy Wynn, 61, told investigators he stole the money to support a gambling habit. The state Supreme Court revoked Wynn’s law license earlier this year, at Wynn’s request.

The investigation was ongoing for several years, though Wynn was charged in January. He has maintained that he has cooperated with investigators and pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of embezzlement of more than $10,000.

In exchange for Friday’s plea, Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney David Feiss told Circuit Judge Timothy Witkowiak that they are recommending a combined nine-year sentence, with three in state prison and six on extended supervision. Feiss also said he is also recommending restitution, though the exact amount was not immediately available.

Witkowiak is scheduled to sentence Wynn on July 2.

The criminal charges stem from the theft of about $33,000 from South Milwaukee-based Benkowski Builders Inc., though Wynn told investigators he stole from more than 200 clients. According to the criminal complaint, Wynn embezzled money by “withdrawing cash from this client trust account beyond what his fee agreement entitled him to and some monies by not depositing client monies into his trust account at all.”

Benkowski hired Wynn to go after people who owed the company money, but Wynn told investigators he started to keep money paid to him by debtors in November 2009.

Benkowski Builders Vice President Jay Benkowski told investigators Wynn’s actions “caused actual losses to the company of closer to $250,000 and $300,000 because all of the debts that were assigned to the defendant became uncollectible,” according to the complaint.

Wynn has said he sought help for his gambling and personal problems.

The state Supreme Court, in its opinion to revoke Wynn’s law license, ordered him to pay more than $761,000 in restitution. Follow @eheisigWLJ