Tuscaloosa Attorney to Spend Three Months in Federal Prison

Zondra Hutto, a Tuscaloosa attorney, was appointed to serve as the guardian to a seventy-nine year old dementia patient and conservator of the patient’s estate. While serving as executor and conservator, Hutto’s law clerk, Brian Lunceford, allegedly used the patient’s money to make personal purchases for himself and Zondra, with Zondra’s knowledge.

The purchases included $584 in gasoline purchases and $3,022 on a trip to Mexico for both Zondra and Lunceford. Luceford has also been accused of withdrawing $14, 852 of the patient’s money from various ATMs and using the patient’s Macy’s credit card to buy himself clothing and a Coach purse for Hutto.

Hutto pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and was sentenced to three months in federal prison. The federal case against Lunceford is still pending.

See Stephanie Taylor, Tuscaloosa Attorney Sentenced to Three-Month Prison Term, Tuscaloosa News, Oct. 3, 2011.

Special thanks to Alfred L. Brophy (Professor, UNC School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.