Regent Law School Attorney Indicted for Real Estate Fraud

Former attorney and Regent Law School graduate, Troy A, Titus, has been arrested on a federal indictment, charging him with defrauding at least $1.5 million from former clients. One of Titus' tactics to gain clients' trust is reported as taking them to dinner, taking them to church and praying with them and talking up his religious faith. In my experience as an attorney, whenever an attorney talks about religion in the context of their legal representation of a client, the smart thing to do is run and watch your wallet as you flee. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

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The FBI on Tuesday arrested disbarred lawyer Troy A. Titus on a federal indictment, charging him with defrauding at least $1.5 million from former clients, including onetime R&B star Teddy Riley. Agents arrested Titus, 42, at his Chesapeake home about 7 a.m. following a lengthy investigation into his real estate dealings. Titus made a brief appearance that afternoon in U.S. District Court, where the 10-count indictment was unsealed.

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The indictment says Titus solicited funds from clients for real estate projects by making false representations and promises as to where the money would be invested. In addition, according to the indictment, Titus used "funds obtained from one set of investors or other sources to make 'lulling' payments to other investors" in order to create a false impression that funds were invested properly and yielding profits. . . . Earlier this year, The Pilot reported that Titus faced at least a dozen lawsuits from former clients who claim he bilked them out of a total of between $2 million and $3 million.

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Titus also is accused of preying on a widow. Doris Addenbrook and her husband, Robert, had been longtime Titus clients. When Robert Addenbrook died in 2001, "Titus began dining with Doris, taking her to church and praying with her, activities he had never previously engaged with Doris," the indictment says. "He told Doris that he wanted to ensure that she would have no further worries," the papers say.