NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A federal grand jury has indicted New Orleans defense attorney Tanzanika Ruffin on a wire fraud charge, accusing her of stealing more than $250,000 from a client’s parents.
The indictment, handed up March 13, says Ruffin “devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud.” Federal prosecutors say she spent the money on personal expenses.
Alleged scheme
Prosecutors say Ruffin told the alleged victims she needed the money to pay restitution to a police officer their son allegedly had battered. Prosecutors also say she asked them to sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep the settlement confidential.
Ruffin’s attorney Kerry Cuccia told Fox 8 in January that Ruffin paid back $264,000 to the alleged victims. Cuccia declined to comment further Monday…