On Monday, February 3, 2025, the Supreme Court of New Jersey suspended attorney Donna Marie Conroy for three years, retroactive to June 6, 2017. The suspension follows her guilty plea and convictions in federal court for making false entries to mislead the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and a financial institution. These actions violate multiple federal statutes, including 18 U.S.C. §§ 1005 and 371, as well as the New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) concerning dishonesty and criminal acts.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Donna Marie Conroy,” with case no. 090004.
The charges cited New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b) and 8.4(c) which states:
Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.
Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Conroy has been temporarily suspended from practicing law since June 6, 2017. She was found guilty of conspiring to create false documentation that misrepresented the financial health of a bank she represented as outside counsel. Specifically, she was involved in a scheme that deceived both the FDIC and First State Bank (FSB) regarding FSB’s capitalization.
The Disciplinary Review Board filed its decision in Docket No. DRB 24-124, wherein it recommended a three-year suspension as a final disciplinary action. The board’s recommendation was based on the severity of Conroy’s misconduct, which included her participation in a conspiracy to mislead regulatory authorities and falsify bank records. The actions taken by Conroy were deemed to reflect adversely on her honesty and trustworthiness as a lawyer.
During her plea allocution in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Conroy admitted to her involvement in a complex scheme that aimed to disguise the true financial state of FSB. This scheme involved multiple co-conspirators, including bank officials and attorneys, who collaborated to create the illusion that substantial outside investments were made in FSB when, in fact, the funds were misappropriated from the bank itself.
The court noted that Conroy’s actions involved creating and executing a fraudulent subscription agreement that misrepresented the source of funds used to purchase shares of FSB stock. This fraudulent activity was aimed at misleading both the bank’s management and regulators regarding the financial condition of FSB.
The Supreme Court’s order mandates that Conroy comply with Rule 1:20-20, which governs the conduct of suspended attorneys in New Jersey. Failure to adhere to the affidavit of compliance could result in further disciplinary actions against her, including potential contempt charges.
Additionally, the court ordered Conroy to reimburse the Disciplinary Oversight Committee for the administrative costs and expenses incurred during the prosecution of her case, under Rule 1:20-17. This reimbursement is a standard procedure in disciplinary actions to recover costs associated with the investigation and hearings.
The suspension reflects the court’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the legal profession and underscores the serious consequences of unethical behavior by attorneys. Conroy’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical conduct and transparency in legal practice.
The Disposition states:
“It is ORDERED that Donna Marie Conroy is suspended from the practice of law for a period of three years, retroactive to June 6, 2017, and until further order of the Court.”
According to avvo.com, Ms. Conroy is a general practice attorney in Cranford, New Jersey. She acquired her law license in New Jersey in 1986.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
