The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined nine attorneys, disbarring three, suspending three, revoking the licenses of two and reprimanding one.

Derek James Acree, P.O. Box 32552, Palm Beach Gardens, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission, effective immediately following an April 27 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2002) On January 4, 2023, Acree was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 41 months in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release after he entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. (Case No: SC23-332)

Stephen Matthew Bander, 121 NE 46th St., Miami, disbarred, effective 30 days following a May 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 1999) Following an SEC investigation, Bander was put on notice and reminded that commissions or kickbacks to a law firm are prohibited when representing clients in EB-5 immigration applications. After being put on notice, Bander accepted monies from a local regional center to which he referred three EB-5 clients for investment. Bander testified before the SEC that those monies belonged to the clients as a reimbursement for legal fees. However, Bander failed to notify his clients of receipt of the funds, placed them in his operating account rather than his trust account, and used the funds to pay firm expenses, rather than timely reimburse his clients. During the disciplinary proceedings, Bander changed his position and claimed the funds were direct payments to him for legal fees. (Case No: SC21-11)

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