The plaintiffs’ bar spends a lot of time reminding the world that it exists to hold bad actors accountable. Which is why the plea struck by former Motley Rice attorney William Christopher Swett lands with a particularly sour thud.
Federal prosecutors say Swett didn’t just cut corners or play fast and loose with billing. Instead, from at least 2018 through March 2024, he allegedly ran a multi-year fraud scheme that involved fake companies, fake clients, fake claims, and very real money — at least $1.5 million of it — siphoned from his own firm and the clients he was supposed to be representing.
According to charging documents filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse, Swett allegedly “knowingly devised a scheme and artifice to defraud the law firm and his clients” using (what else) false representations, fraudulent pretenses, and a whole lot of creativity that would have been better applied to literally anything (legal).
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To further the scheme, Swett allegedly created multiple legal services companies that were designed to appear legitimate. He then allegedly expensed Motley Rice and his clients for services that were never performed, padded invoices with inflated and illegitimate expenses, and, crucially, failed to disclose that he had a financial interest in the companies receiving the money.
You know. Minor details.
Federal prosecutors say Swett didn’t stop there. He allegedly submitted reimbursement requests for fake clients, fabricated death and personal injury claims, and even falsified medical records and other documents to keep the fraud going.
“To conceal his crimes, Swett laundered the funds through accounts he controlled and siphoned the money for his own personal enrichment,” the prosecutor’s office said. “Swett fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million.”
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The plea agreement covers eight felony counts total, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, along with potential fines of up to $250,000.
Swett’s attorney, Nathan Williams, offered the familiar mitigation framework, saying Swett had “for a long time” struggled with “personal challenges” and had made “poor and regretful decisions.” Williams emphasized that Swett “has made significant changes in his life” and that the plea agreement reflects an effort to show accountability.
Williams added that he hopes the judge will eventually hear “the full explanation for the circumstances of the case,” likely at sentencing.
As for Motley Rice, the firm issued a succinct statement through a spokesperson, “We await the next steps in this criminal prosecution regarding this former employee.”
Which is about as restrained as you can be when one of your former lawyers allegedly spent years running a private fraud operation while holding himself out as a champion for plaintiffs.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].