Former Erie County Legislator David Dale, a disbarred lawyer from Lancaster, faces possible jail time after pleading guilty to a fraud charge.
Dale, 49, went before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns Tuesday and pled to one charge of first-degree felony scheme to defraud and one count of practice of law by an attorney who has been disbarred.
"He pled guilty to scheme to defraud in the first degree, which is a felony, and unlawfully practicing law without a license. Mr. Dale...was disbarred from the practice of law in 2005. Apparently Mr. Dale did not heed the taking away of his license and decided to practice law anyway," said Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita III, speaking to WBFO and AM 970 News.
The former legislator kept a so-called law office open and continued receiving fees from clients in return for providing unlawful legal services. He admitted stealing money from some individuals by pretending he was allowed to practice law.
Dale served in the Legislature for two years in the early '00's. He faces a maximum of four years in prison at sentencing August 28.