Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said an attorney from Metuchen, whose practice is in Woodbridge, admitted to the theft of clients’ funds stemming from two pending indictments.
According to authorities, Richard Zuvich, 64, of Metuchen, pleaded guilty on July 16, 2018, to theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of entrusted property admitting he took the proceeds from a house sale, put the funds into a trust account, and then withdrew proceeds for his own personal gain without the clients’ authorization.
Officials say in a separate case, Zuvich pleaded guilty to theft by deception and
theft by failure to make required disposition admitting he negotiated an insurance settlement for a house that burnt down on behalf of a client, without her consent or knowledge. He then proceeded to steal the settlement money.
Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Prosecutor Christine D’Elia, the defendant is to serve five years in a state prison, and is to pay $310,000 in restitution at the time of sentencing.
According to authorities, Zuvich was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1980. He was suspended from the practice of law on May 30, 2017, following a petition filed by the Office of Attorney Ethics to the Supreme Court of New Jersey. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez in New Brunswick on February 22, 2019 and must make restitution to his clients.
An investigation by Detective Andrew Kondracki of the Woodbridge Police Department and Detective Christopher Pennisi of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that, Zuvich, who was a practicing attorney in Colonia, stole client funds between May 8, 2015 and July 2017.