Skip to content
Cover of 'Detective Comics' No. 27 (May 1939), in which Batman makes his first comic-book appearance. Art by Bob Kane. Source: The Grand Comics Database via Wikipedia. All DC Comics characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Trademarks & Copyright © 1939 DC Comics, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of the cover of a comic book to illustrate the issue of the comic book in question qualifies as fair use under the terms of US Copyright Law. Note: This image does not depict the comic book that was purchased by Anthony Chiofalo.

Report: Disbarred attorney who stole $9M bought pricey Batman comic

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson

Cover of 'Detective Comics' No. 27 (May 1939), in which Batman makes his first comic-book appearance. Art by Bob Kane. Source: The Grand Comics Database via Wikipedia. All DC Comics characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Trademarks & Copyright © 1939 DC Comics, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of the cover of a comic book to illustrate the issue of the comic book in question qualifies as fair use under the terms of US Copyright Law. Note: This image does not depict the comic book that was purchased by Anthony Chiofalo.
Cover of ‘Detective Comics’ No. 27 (May 1939), in which Batman makes his first comic-book appearance. Art by Bob Kane. Source: The Grand Comics Database via Wikipedia. All DC Comics characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Trademarks & Copyright © 1939 DC Comics, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of the cover of a comic book to illustrate the issue of the comic book in question qualifies as fair use under the terms of US Copyright Law. Note: This image does not depict the comic book that was purchased by Anthony Chiofalo.
HOUSTON (AP) – A disbarred attorney who authorities say stole $9 million from his employer has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The Houston Chronicle reports Anthony Chiofalo bought valuable collectibles, including a first-edition Batman comic book worth $900,000, with the money he embezzled. He was sentenced Monday.

Authorities say Chiofalo took the money while working in Houston for Tadano America Corp., a subsidiary of a Japanese company that manufactures large cranes.

He had been a New York attorney but was disbarred. Prosecutors say Chiofalo set up dummy law firms as part of his scheme.

Lonnie Blevins, an ex-investigator with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Chiofalo, was later arrested, accused of selling some of the comic books seized in the case. Blevins’ case is pending in federal court.

___

Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com

#   #   #

Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.