Putnam attorney consents to disbarment

CHARLESTON –- Two months after he was sentenced for bankruptcy fraud, a Putnam County attorney has surrendered his license.

The state Supreme Court on Oct. 18 annulled the license of Winfield attorney Patrick B. Anderson. In a press release issued by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the investigative arm of the state Bar, Anderson agreed to have his license annulled by voluntary consent in lieu of facing disciplinary charges.

In August, Anderson was sentenced in U.S. District Court to two years probation which included three months in a federal halfway house, and six months home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $2,200 in fines, and not to practice law while on probation.

Following a two-day trial in April, Anderson was convicted on the charges of bankruptcy fraud, and fraudulent transfer and concealment of assets for which he was indicted last October. He was accused of transferring property belonging to Herman and Peggy Matney of Poca to their daughter so it would be unavailable to creditors when the couple filed for bankruptcy.

Anderson, 54, can petition for re-instatement of his license in 2015.