Former Attorney Sentenced for Taking Money from Special Needs Clients

TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Leslie Ellen Mansfield, 61, of Tulsa, for Bank Fraud. Judge Frizzell ordered Mansfield to serve 18 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Mansfield to pay $137,240.95 in restitution.

According to court documents, Mansfield was a licensed attorney in New Mexico and Oklahoma. In 2011, she was asked to serve as trustee over supplemental needs trust (SNT) accounts for five adults with intellectual disabilities. The SNT accounts are established to protect clients’ Medicaid and Social Security disability benefits. Mansfield was entrusted to access these accounts for the sole benefit of the client. For example, she was authorized to withdraw funds to purchase a handicapped vehicle, clothing, dance lessons, and Special Olympic fees, and to prepay funeral expenses. 

From December 2011 through November 2017, Mansfield withdrew funds from the SNT accounts for her own personal use. She attempted to conceal her embezzlement by altering bank statements. One of the victims lost Medicaid benefits because Mansfield did not timely submit records on behalf of the client.     

Mansfield was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vani Singhal prosecuted the case.