Westerville Man Sentenced for Pretending to be An Attorney

Muskingum County- A Westerville man was sentenced to serve time in prison for defrauding a Zanesville family and pretending to be an attorney.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office said 73-year-old John D. Allen of Westerville, appeared in Muskingum Common Pleas Court for sentencing.  Judge Kelly Cottrill sentenced Allen to serve one year in prison for his crimes of felony theft and misdemeanor unauthorized practice of law.

Beginning in August 2023, Allen contacted the victim about drafting a trust. The victim was later admitted to the hospital and Allen had him sign the documents. The victim later passed away, and Allen asked the victim’s daughter to pay for legal services involving her father’s trust. The daughter, now also a victim, paid Allen upfront for his services involving the trust.

In January 2024, the victim reported to law enforcement that she was the victim of fraud, identifying Allen as the suspect.