CARLISLE, Pa.- Prosecutors added 70 more charges against disbarred attorney Karl Rominger on Thursday. The district attorney says they have even more victims and the amount he's accused of stealing has grown to $800,000.
Rominger was originally charged back in February. Investigators say he took clients money, keeping money from accident and divorce settlements.
Now, investigators say in this new criminal complaint that Rominger also stole from clients' estates after they died, taking money they meant for their relatives. In one case, he sold a clients' gold coins for more than $90,000 and took the money; she had willed them to a military charity in Virginia.
"It's a black mark on the profession," says D.A. Dave Freed. "He's violated both his ethical duties and the crimes code. It's a real shame."
Forensic accountants traced the money through casinos.
"It's certainly taken us hundreds of man hours to undo what he's done," says Freed.
Rominger took responsibility and apologized to his victims in a Facebook post:
"First, I once again want to apologize to everyone involved, especially to my victims, as well as to the courts, the bar, and of course all of you for my crimes.
I surrendered myself once again this AM on the "new" charges. Looks like the total number of victims and dollar amounts were in line with what I told the government in March 2014. I also brought another name and amount to their attention which had been missed (not sure how because he had filed paperwork with the Supreme Court), and so they are adding that new charge, at my request. I also saw they say there are still "known victims" for which charges were not brought. I asked for a list of those names as well, which the detective promised to provide. It was nice to finally meet and talk with him for the first time.
As soon as the charging phase is complete I look forward to making restitution and seeking a just resolution."
"I would frankly say that most of the statements he's making are aimed at somebody who's going to sentence him," says D.A. Dave Freed. "He's not going to convince me of anything."
Although Rominger mentions restitution, Freed says it's unlikely the victims will get the money back.
"Best case is, it takes years," Freed says. "Worst case is it never gets paid at all."
Rominger's attorney says his client has a gambling addiction and he will plead guilty to the original charges in December.