Former Attorney Sentenced to State Prison

Published on March 01, 2016

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Neil Gross, age 47 of Livingston, New Jersey, has been sentenced on charges of Theft (second degree), Unauthorized Practice of Law (third degree) and Bad Checks (third degree).

Gross was sentenced by the Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. to three (3) years in State Prison on the charge of Theft (second degree) with concurrent three (3) year sentences on the charges of Unauthorized Practice of Law (third degree) and Bad Checks (third degree).

This matter was referred to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office from the New Jersey Lawyer's Fund for Client Protection. An investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit disclosed that while Gross was suspended from the practice of law, he conducted real estate transactions for clients. In one (1) transaction, Gross received $150,000.00 into his Trust account to hold pending receipt of a Tax Clearance Certificate. Gross immediately began to withdraw those funds and convert them to his own personal use.

Criminal charges against Gross were signed on October 23, 2015, by Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective Joseph Soulias and the matter was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Rappa.

Prosecutor Knapp thanks the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit, whose efforts contributed to this result.

Any inquiries can be directed to Executive Captain Richard A. Rose at rrose@co.morris.nj.us or (973) 285-6244.