UPDATE SEPT. 12: Rob Graham is no longer a Nevada lawyer, and he never will be again.
The Nevada Supreme Court has unanimously decided to disbar the disgraced attorney.
The seven justices note that "Graham misappropriated approximately $17 million in client funds."
He failed to disburse money owed to clients, failed to respond to their questions, lied to the court and abandoned his law practice.
The order says Graham's conduct was intentional and caused substantial, even overwhelming harm because his clients, most of them vulnerable victims, lost substantial amounts of their assets."
The justices wrote, "Because the amount of misappropriated client funds is staggering and Graham exploited vulnerable people, disbarment is the only appropriate discipline."
Graham has been ordered to pay restitution of $17.2 million and a fine of $1 million.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- A probate and guardianship lawyer, who earlier this year denied allegations of theft, did an about-face Thursday -- admitting he stole from the vulnerable clients who counted on him.
Attorney Robert Graham was charged with the largest theft of client money in the history of the Nevada State Bar.
After being indicted in January, he told the judge he didn't do it.
His jury trial was set to begin this week, but Thursday, he admitted guilt in the form of millions of dollars stolen from local families.
Court documents show nearly 400 people looking for a payout for possible malpractice on Graham's part.
But the eight-count indictment for theft, exploitation and destroying evidence focused on three families who lost a combined $2.1 million.
Graham pleaded guilty Thursday to two felony theft counts and three counts of exploitation of an older or vulnerable person.
Bill Lee's father was one of the victims.
"We're glad that he is being prosecuted so the investigation and the jail time will continue, "said Lee. "But it doesn't honestly do much for the emotional and financial harm that he has caused not only our family but the others with whom he was their lawyer.
Graham is set to be sentenced on Jan. 11. He faces prison for anywhere from 16 to 40 years.
