Former lawyer asks for pretrial program in client theft case

STAMFORD — An attorney representing a former Westport immigration attorney accused of bilking her clients out of more than $200,000 is asking a judge to consider granting his client a probation program on the condition she pay restitution.

Attorney Darnell Crosland asked Judge Gary White to consider an arrangement where his client, 69-year-old Judith Sporn, would enter conditional guilty pleas on two counts of first-degree larceny in return for her acceptance into accelerated rehabilitation, a pretrial program available to people accused of nonviolent crimes.

As a part of the program, Sporn would be required to pay back about $164,000 that she is accused of stealing from 80 clients.

If Sporn were able to pay restitution and comply with any other terms set out by probation, the court would nullify the conditional guilty pleas. If she failed to meet the terms of the agreement, however, her guilty pleas would stick.

Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Valdes said that typically “substantial restitution” must be made by a defendant like Sporn before such an offer can be made.

However, Crosland asked the court to consider doing so anyway based on the 70-year-old woman’s “extreme health issues” and financial struggles since she resigned from the Connecticut bar in 2017 following her suspension a year earlier.

Valdes said Crosland needs to show the state proof of Sporn’s financial situation or a note from her doctor regarding her health first.

“All of that is going to be necessary for your honor to decide,” he said.

While Crosland has yet to submit an application for the accelerated rehabilitation program, he is scheduled to have a pretrial discussion with White and Valdes about a possible plea deal in coming weeks.

Sporn’s case dates back to her arrest in November 2019 on a referral from the Stamford State’s Attorney’s office, which investigated allegations that she took $169,456 from 80 clients. A second warrant said she refused to pay a $43,000 settlement to a former client.

Sporn was suspended from practicing law by a state judge for two years in 2015. According to her current arrest warrants, Sporn’s recent troubles with the law began when the Statewide Grievance Committee, which investigates and adjudicates complaints made by clients against their attorneys, referred their investigation into Sporn to the Stamford State’s Attorney’s office. The Grievance Committee investigation led to her being suspended from the bar in October 2016.

In November 2017, Sporn resigned from the Connecticut bar and waived her right to ever apply for reinstatement as an attorney.

According to the affidavit, Sporn was the subject of dozens of grievance complaints over the past few years. Many of her former immigration clients said she took their money to represent them, but did not do anything to help them legally and did not return their money.