Lawyer faces jail, disbarment for diverting estate funds

A Jersey City lawyer, currently under suspension, faces jail time and disbarment for misappropriating more than $75,000 from the estate of a deceased cousin who lived in Sea Girt.

In Freehold, John Hammill, 65, pleaded guilty Tuesday to misapplication of entrusted property, according to information from acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.

Terms of his agreement call for Hamill to be incarcerated for 180 days in the Monmouth County Correctional Facility as a condition of probation. He has also agreed to undergo disbarment and pay restitution totalling $109,442.

Hammill was arrested in October 2014 when county investigators determined that he had withdrawn funds from the estate to pay debts and personal expenses.