Sad article in the Connecticut Law Tribune:  Missing Lawyer Admits Embezzlement in Confessional Letter, by Douglas S. Malan:

The letter is part confession, part apology and part practical advice. It is shocking in its honesty. "I have embezzled funds from my clients," business law attorney Jonathan Hoyt wrote to his son, attorney Christopher Hoyt. "Like most lawyers who fall into this trap I always did it with the idea that I would repay the funds, but of course once I started down this slippery slope there was nothing but failure waiting for me at the end." The letter is dated July 7, one day after Jonathan Hoyt, 58, was last seen in The Hoyt Law Group’s Clinton, Conn., office, according to police. As of late last week, he was still missing.  …

Hoyt, who resides in Westbrook, was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1974, a year after graduating from Southern Methodist University School of Law. … Hoyt was respected enough in his field that he gave seminars on topics such as international taxation and limited liability corporations. But he also had his troubles. In his letter, Hoyt makes reference to an illness, which appears to be depression. …

Jonathan Hoyt advises his son, who is based in The Hoyt Law Group’s office in the Empire State Building in New York, on how Christopher Hoyt might continue his law practice. "Once you receive this letter, you will have to make arrangements to come back to the office and start working on the mess I have left you," the letter states. "You will need someone with a clear mind to advise you as to how to wrap up the Hoyt Law Group, LLC." The elder Hoyt added: "I think in most cases [of defrauded clients] our malpractice policy and surety bonds will compensate the victims. My recommendation would be to dissolve the Hoyt Law Group LLC and have you practice under your name only in [New York City] or join a firm."