Arrest Warrant Issued For West Long Branch Attorney

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office has issued an arrest warrant for Eugene M. La Vernge, 47, of West Long Branch, an attorney who allegedly stole from his clients.

La Vernge is facing a number of charges, including theft and misapplication of entrusted property, both second degree crimes, after the prosecutor's office began investigating multiple complaints against him. He is currently suspended from practicing law.

An investigation into the theft of the funds of one of his clients revealed that in 2008, La Vergne was hired in a pending estate matter before the Chancery Division of the Monmouth County Superior Court, according to a release from the prosecutor.

The release states that in 2009, after a property was sold from the estate, La Vergne received approximately $502,000 in his attorney trust account – funds that belonged to the estate represented by La Vergne.

However, he allegedly began to use money from the the trust fund for personal expenses.

Later that year, La Vergne’s trust account balance fell below the threshold the Chancery Court had ordered him to maintain and it was frozen per court order and a levy was placed upon the remaining funds, according to the release.

The prosecutor's office conducted an audit on the trust fund and found that La Vernge allegedly used $152,000 for personal expenses.

La Vernge has been practicing law since 1990 and his last known job was a sole practice in Eatontown, until his ability to practice law was suspended on Jan. 27, 2011 by the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Another complaint led to an investigation which revealed that La Vergne accepted a $4,500 retainer for the performance of legal services after he had already been suspended, the release states.

The charges of Theft and Misapplication of Entrusted Property carry a potential maximum prison sentence of 10 years. The charge of theft relating to accepting the retainer carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and the final charge of unauthorized practice of law carries a maximum prison sentence fo 18 months.

Any person with information regarding the whereabouts of Eugene M. La Vergne or information about the investigation should contact Det. Edward Finlay of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 1-800-533-7443.

Assistant Prosecutor John Loughrey is assigned to the case.