Politics

High court disbars former candidate

By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer
Published November 16, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Angelo Cappelli, 37, ran unsuccessfully for the state House last year.

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Supreme Court recently disbarred attorney Angelo Cappelli, 37, a former Republican state House candidate from St. Petersburg who is facing charges of grand theft and perjury.

Cappelli was one of eight attorneys disbarred statewide by the court, according to the Florida Bar. In all 29 attorneys were disciplined, including eight from the Tampa Bay area.

Cappelli, a wealth and investment adviser at SunTrust Bank, was considered a hot political newcomer. He ran unsuccessfully for the state House last year.

St. Petersburg police arrested Cappelli in August, alleging that he stole $110,500 from the trust account of a deceased SunTrust client.

Cappelli's attorney Frank Louderback recently said SunTrust has been reimbursed.

Cappelli, who has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges, will be officially disbarred within 30 days of the court's Oct. 18 order. He became a lawyer in 1995.

According to the Florida Bar, the court also took the following actions:

-Disbarred Richard Joseph DaFonte, a Clearwater attorney who failed to account for real estate proceeds and return them to the bank.

-Reprimanded Sherman Martin Brod of Tampa, who failed to disclose his interest in two real estate businesses with his wife in which he received $50,000 in advance profits from an investor loan.

-Suspended Glenn Erikson of Tampa, who was convicted of felony wire fraud.

-Suspended Doreen M. Goldbronn of Palm Harbor, who was involved in a investment program in which a client lost $40,000.

-Suspended Michael T. Kovach of Inverness, who converted client trust account funds for his own use.

-Suspended Joey Dean Oquist of St. Petersburg, who had shortages in a trust account and held an award to a personal injury client for four months.

[Last modified November 15, 2007, 23:47:18]