Missouri Lawyer Sentenced for Embezzling Insurance Payouts

A former lawyer in Missouri’s St. Louis County is going to prison after embezzling nearly $500,000 in insurance settlements from dozens of clients.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says 53-year-old Jonathan McKee was sentenced to five years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in March to one felony count of mail fraud.

McKee had a general law practice in University City. Prosecutors said that between 2007 and 2011, he kept more than $495,000 in settlement money from insurance companies that should have gone to about 87 clients.

McKee was disbarred by both Missouri and Illinois last year.