On January 4, 2024, West Palm Beach News reported on an investigation into a Miami attorney by the Florida Bar. According to the report, the Bar had examined the trust account of lawyer Hector Acosta Carillo after a $3,500 check to a medical provider bounced in April 2023.
The payment was linked to a personal injury settlement Carillo handled on behalf of a client. However, an audit found irregularities in Carillo’s trust balances between late February and late May, with shortfalls ranging from $250 to as much as $10,040. On the day before reissuing the $3,500 check in question, Carillo’s account should have held over $10,097 but only had approximately $57.
The auditor traced transactions and discovered the low balance of around $57 remained consistent for about two months surrounding the returned check. A subsequent $3,500 deposit then covered the replacement payment. Additionally, unexplained withdrawals totaling around $5,000 were made between February and April. Near that period, over $5,000 was also transferred out of the trust account to Carillo’s personal checking account.
Based on these findings, the auditor concluded Carillo had violated trust management rules and improperly used client funds. As a result, Carillo received an emergency suspension from the Florida Supreme Court starting approximately one month after the decision. Around this time, Carillo’s law partner also changed their firm name to remove Carillo amid the misconduct revelations.
Source: West Palm Beach News
