BRISTOL — The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut’s office announced today a former Bristol attorney will spend close to four years behind bars for stealing more than $169,000 from individuals for whom she served as a court-appointed conservator.
43-year-old, Jodi Zils Gagne of Bristol was a court-appointed conservator with several clients in Connecticut and according to court documents, Zils Gagne began misappropriating individuals’ money and over-billing them in 2015.
The former attorney defrauded six victims of a total of $169,402.74.
The money Zils Gagne misappropriated was intended for the conserved persons’ medical care, housing, bills, personal expenses, and legitimate conservator fees.
One elderly victim was defrauded of approximately $136,000, and Zils Gagne appropriated $113,000 of that money making it appear as an “investment.”
However, it was really a 10-year note that paid only a prime rate and was signed between Zils Gagne and her husband, later using that money to fund a Bristol-based internet radio station and her husband’s start-up company.
In addition, the investigation found she and her husband profited from kickbacks of two victims’ home sales which Zils Gagne arranged to her own relative for less than their appraised values.
A Connecticut Superior Court judge suspended Zils Gagne from the practice of law in September and she pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud a month later.
The FBI and Greenwich Police Department worked closely to conduct this investigation.
After being released on $50,000 bond, U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant ordered Zils Gagne to report to prison on July 8.