A Cardiff solicitor who defrauded Cancer Research UK (CRUK) by submitting false claims for will-writing services has been sentenced.
CRUK operates a free will-writing service that allows people to have a simple or mirror will drafted through a participating solicitor or legal service provider.
In December 2021, Michael Fogg, 47, from Cyncoed, joined the service as the sole solicitor at Trusting Willpower Limited.
An investigation discovered that Fogg had repeatedly claimed he had prepared wills on behalf of CRUK and received payment from it for work that had not been carried out.
On 29 June, he pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
Last Friday, he was sentenced at Newport Crown Court to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, a two-year probation order and 120 hours of unpaid work.
Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for southern Wales, which conducted the investigation, told Civil Society that Fogg was sentenced for one count of fraud for 40 invoices totalling 4,800.
He had been charged with four counts of fraud by false representation in total after submitting invoices to CRUK worth 25,560.
“The other three counts will stay on his file, but he didn’t receive a sentence for these,” the spokesperson said.
When an individual uses CRUK’s free will-writing service and donates 100 or more, the charity sends them a thank-you card.
Tarian ROCU said the fraud came to light when three recipients contacted CRUK to say they had...
A Cardiff solicitor who defrauded Cancer Research UK (CRUK) by submitting false claims for will-writing services has been sentenced. CRUK operates a free will-writing service that allows people to...