10 new theft allegations surface as probe into Latrobe attorney continues

A Westmoreland County detective testified Tuesday that authorities are looking into 10 new theft allegations leveled against Latrobe lawyer J. Allen Roth.

Roth, 70, was charged and jailed on theft counts earlier this month in which he was accused of bilking a jailed client out of more than $31,000 that he used to gamble with at Live Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield.

Detective Nick Caesar said since Roth’s arrest, the district attorney’s office has received as many as 10 more complaints from other alleged victims.

“These are similar investigations, but they are not far enough along to determine if charges will be filed,” Caesar testified.

Roth is facing nine felony charges including dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, theft, financial exploitation, deceptive business practices and related offenses. Prosecutors contend Roth, with the help of a co-defendant who was charged last week, stole funds from a jail inmate’s bank account after he was hired as her lawyer despite her already having an assigned attorney.

Roth gambled with the stolen cash, prosecutors claim. He has denied the allegations.

He has been held in prison since his arrest on Nov. 7 in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio on Tuesday ruled Roth could be released if he posts a $75,000 cash bond.

The judge said if he is released, Roth is barred from working as a lawyer and is prohibited from having contact with any former or current clients. He will also be required to serve on house arrest upon his release.

It was unclear on Tuesday if Roth had the means to post bail.

Defense attorney Brian Aston said Roth currently lives in a home owned by his son, does not have a vehicle and that his only assets are household furnishings and a bank account with just $3,000.

Prosecutors argued against reducing Roth’s bail and suggested if freed he would continue to work as a lawyer without a specific court order preventing him from doing so. The state Supreme Court is expected to suspend Roth’s law license, but as of Tuesday had yet to do so, said Assistant District Attorney Leo Ciaramitaro.

“We have enough allegations that we need to put a cease and desist in this. This is a long tortured history we investigated,” Ciaramitaro said.

Roth will waive his preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday before District Judge Chris Flanigan and on Tuesday withdrew a motion asking for a change of venue, Aston said.