Atlantic County Lawyer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Stealing Seniors’ Life Savings

Barbara Lieberman, a prominent Atlantic County lawyer, was sentenced to 10 years for stealing from her elderly clients. The New Jersey State Police began investigating the matter after the Office of the Guardian advised them about a woman who they believed had been financial exploited. The State combed through bank records for over two and one-half years before finding that Lieberman and four others used their positions to defraud 17 named victims of nearly $3.9 million dollars.

The sentencing Judge, Honorable Michael Donio, referred to Lieberman as the “Quarterback to this team of scam artists”. Lieberman pled guilty to one count of first-degree money laundering for her role in this crime. She lost her license to practice law and she must serve 3 ½ years in prison before she is eligible for parole under a plea agreement. She also forfeited three million dollars in restitution. Lieberman’s five co-conspirators have been indicted and face conspiracy, money laundering, official misconduct and theft by deception charges.

Lieberman pled guilty to first-degree money laundering under New Jersey Statutes 2C:21-27. A first-degree crime carries mandatory state prison between 10 to 20 years with a mandatory period of parole ineligibility. Lieberman was sentenced to 10 years with 3 ½ years of parole ineligibility. This means she must sit in state prison for 3 ½ years before the parole board may consider her for parole. Lieberman’s cooperation with the attorney general’s office played a part in her sentence. The sentencing judge noted that Lieberman cooperated with the attorney general’s office which helped implicate her co-defendants. Lieberman gave a full confession when arrested by the police and sat with investigators from the attorney general’s office going through the massive paperwork necessary to the case against Lieberman and her co-defendants. Lieberman also agreed to testify against the co-defendants.