Acworth Ex-Lawyer Admits To Stealing From Elderly Clients

ACWORTH, GA — A former attorney has pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from elderly clients, Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes said.

For years, Anthony Eugene Cheatham, now 63, practiced law in Acworth, handling real-estate transactions and elder law. An investigation by the Cobb Sheriff’s Office found that as early as 2012, Cheatham began misappropriating money in his IOLTA Trust Account entrusted to him by clients, many of whom were elderly.

Cheatham received client funds but then used the money to pay his bills, write personal checks to himself and family members — and make payments to other individuals from whom he had previously taken money. To conceal his deceit, Cheatham showed his clients phony documents and provided false excuses regarding their money, the DA's office said.

The victims in this case, some of whom had more than $100,000 stolen, have each been made whole, as Cheatham’s family has managed to pay restitution in full, the DA said. One theft in 2017 occurred while Cheatham’s law license was suspended. He has now been disbarred.

“Mr. Cheatham violated his position of trust as an attorney, and even more egregiously, did so against elderly clients,” ADA David Williamson said. “It is unique that the state was able to secure full restitution upfront for all the victims. However, that does not excuse the defendant’s behavior and the violation of the oath the defendant took as an attorney to uphold the law. As a result, Mr. Cheatham will never practice law again and will never work in any sort position of trust, especially around the elderly.”

After accepting Cheatham’s guilty pleas to racketeering, unlicensed practice of law, six counts of theft, and four counts of elder exploitation, Cobb Superior Court Judge C. LaTain Kell sentenced Cheatham to 20 years, with one year to serve.

Cheatham has been in custody for more than a year, and is scheduled to be released on time served. In addition to his confinement, Cheatham is not allowed to practice law again, is now a convicted felon, and can never act as an agent, trustee, fiduciary, or work in any position, whether paid or volunteer, where he is responsible for the care or finances of another person, the DA said.