Attorney Uses Status As Power of Attorney to Steal Thousands of Dollars from a Dead Woman's Estate

FLORIDA KEYS MARATHON — A Marathon woman accused of stealing from a dead woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant for grand theft Wednesday, according to reports.

Tammy Poore-Russell, whose occupation is listed as a legal assistant and lawyer on the Web site of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, allegedly used her status as power of attorney to steal thousands of dollars from a dead woman's estate, reports state.

After the woman died in May 2006, Poore-Russell, 47, allegedly wrote many checks and made withdrawals from an account set up in the woman's name at a local bank, according to reports.
Power of attorney over someone ends with their death, but the bank reportedly was unaware that the woman had died.

A friend who lived with the woman before she died told Key West police that she received a copy of the woman's bank statement that showed withdrawals made after her death.

Taken from a Keys Crime Report
080307

this is an older post, however we are reposting it because it is relevant to the discussion that we are having and how we feel the legal establishment needs to do a better job in weeding out the bad apples.