MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — A Maryland man who admitted defrauding clients while working as a lawyer in West Virginia will spend four months in jail and five years on probation.

Berkeley County Circuit Court Judge Gray Silver sentenced Kenneth J. Ford, 37, of Baltimore on Wednesday.

The Journal says Ford pleaded guilty to all 10 counts of the indictment against him, including obtaining money by false pretenses, forgery and uttering.

Silver called Ford’s actions a disgrace to the profession and sentenced him to three to 20 years in prison, then suspended that sentence and ordered jail time.

The state Supreme Court annulled Ford’s law license in March. He now answers phones at a transmission-repair shop.
Ford will be allowed to serve time on weekends to stay employed and repay his victims nearly $13,000.

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