Disbarred Rhode Island Lawyer Gets 18 Months in Prison

A disbarred former Cranston, R.I., lawyer has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing about $1.1 million from his clients.

The Providence Journal reports that Robert Natal of East Greenwich cried and took responsibility for his crimes during Tuesday’s sentencing in Providence Superior Court. He pleaded guilty in February to 10 counts of unlawful appropriation.

Authorities say the married father of five took money his clients gave him to pay off mortgages, taxes and insurance premiums and spent it on travel, groceries and restaurant meals.

One of his victims was retired Army officer Albert Rose, who hired Natal to handle a real estate closing in 2009. Rose’s son, Staff Sgt. Scott Rose, had recently been killed in Iraq.

Natal is set to begin his prison term June 11.