CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SANTA ANA : Lawyer Sentenced for Embezzlement

A former federal prosecutor, characterized as “the embodiment of the word shyster,” was sentenced to seven years in prison for embezzling nearly $2 million from clients of his Santa Ana law practice. Michael T. Kenney, formerly an assistant U.S. attorney and FBI agent, pleaded guilty to grand theft charges in March for embezzling $1.9 million given to him by or on behalf of 14 clients. At least a dozen of those clients have filed civil lawsuits against the lawyer, who was disbarred in February. Prosecutors said Kenney led a lavish lifestyle and worked out of an elegant office in Santa Ana, but they cannot find the bulk of the missing funds. Kenney told prosecutors that most or all of the money he took from clients went to another client from whom he stole money in 1986. He has not named that person, prosecutors said.