Disbarred lawyer sentenced to 20 years

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A disbarred Lexington lawyer has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for fraud and other crimes.

Part of the case involved 35-year-old Seth J. Johnston’s involvement in collecting money for plaintiffs in a case over the diet drug fen-phen. Prosecutors say Johnston diverted nearly $15,000 of the collections for personal use.

U.S. Senior District Judge Joseph M. Hood sentenced Johnston on Monday. Prosecutors said in a related hearing this month that Hood found that Johnston engaged in multiple fraud schemes, resulting in a total loss of more than $4 million to more than 250 victims.

Johnston pleaded guilty last October to wire, mail and tax fraud; obstruction of justice; and distribution of synthetic marijuana.

In August, the Kentucky Supreme Court permanently disbarred Johnston, which he requested.

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