Suspended Columbus attorney now faces 18 felony theft charges

A local attorney who had his law license suspended by the Georgia Supreme Court is now facing multiple felony theft charges by the Columbus Police Department.

George W. “Bill” Snipes has been under police investigation since January, Columbus police Maj. J.D. Hawk said Thursday. On Monday, 18 warrants were issued for Snipes’ arrest. Police have not been able to locate him, Hawk said.

“We went to his last known address and he was nowhere to be found,” Hawk said.

The Ledger-Enquirer reported Wednesday that Snipes had been suspended by the Supreme Court. Later that afternoon, WLTZ-TV reported Snipes was under investigation and wanted by Columbus police.

Last month, the State Bar of Georgia requested that Snipes be suspended immediately because he could “pose a substantial danger to clients as well as to other members of the public.” The Bar is requesting that Snipes be disbarred.

At least five former clients filed complaints with the state bar, which licenses and regulates attorneys in Georgia. All of them claimed that the Snipes, whom they had hired to represent them in personal injury claims as the result of vehicle wrecks, had settled lawsuit without their knowledge and kept the insurance money.

The five complaints with the state bar allege that Snipes took more than $625,000. Snipes never filed a response with the state bar addressing the complaints, which he was notified of in late October.

One of the complaints from those Snipes represented was they could not locate him or get him to return phone calls to discuss their suits.

Snipes has been a solo practitioner since January 2012, with an office at 1300 Wynnton Road, Suite 101. Previously, he practiced with his two brothers, David and Robert, until the partnership was dissolved in early 2012. All of the bar complaints came after Bill Snipes left the practice with his brothers.

This story was originally published April 19, 2018 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Suspended Columbus attorney now faces 18 felony theft charges."