In the following press release Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney Christopher L. Morano announced the arrest of a former Hamden attorney on charges of embezzling approximately $190,000 from a client and forging attorney malpractice insurance documents.

EDWARD BOTWICK, age 50, of 54 Forest Glen Drive, Woodbridge, was charged with one count of Larceny in the First Degree by Embezzlement, a felony carrying a maximum prison term of 20 years, and two counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, felonies each carrying a maximum prison term of five years.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Mr. Botwick received $1,440,708.24 at a December 28, 2004, closing on a mortgage which he agreed to hold in his escrow account on behalf of his client. Mr. Botwick agreed to wire the funds to the client’s creditor, but kept $190,708.24 for his personal use, the warrant alleges. Mr. Botwick, who practiced law in Hamden, resigned as an attorney effective August 30, 2005, according to the warrant.

The warrant further alleges that Mr. Botwick falsely represented that he had a $1 million Lawyers Professional Liability Coverage policy. Inspectors from the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney determined that Mr. Botwick had not been issued any professional liability policy since 1998.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Botwick forged two certificates of insurance by altering the dates and signatures on expired certificates of insurance, the warrant states.

Mr. Botwick was arraigned this morning in New Haven Superior Court, G.A. No. 23. The Honorable Joan K. Alexander set bond at $50,000 and continued the case until March 28, 2006, in New Haven Superior Court, Part A.

This case is being prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill. The charges against the defendant are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Update on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 5:51PM by The Editor - Ian Shuter - ACFE, DMS

In a further press release  the CT Attorney General announced another charge has been made against Edward Botwick who is now also accused of forging another attorney’s signature on a release of a lis pendens filed against the property Mr. Botwick’s client was attempting to sell.

Update on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 5:12PM by The Editor - Ian Shuter - ACFE, DMS

On March 12, 2007 the Connecticut Attorney General annouced that following his December 2006 guilty plea The Honorable Judge Richard A. Damiani sentenced Mr. Botwick to a total effective sentence of five years, execution suspended after six months, and a three-year conditional discharge. Mr. Botwick has already made full restitution.

Click here for the press release