By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews
A former Rockville attorney who once marketed herself as a trusted guide through bankruptcy and financial hardship now faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to a sweeping fraud that cost clients and investors more than $4.2 million.
According to reporting by Bethesda Magazine, Sari Kurland, also known as Sari Bloch, admitted on January 9 to one count of theft scheme over $100,000 and 15 counts of misappropriation by a fiduciary in Montgomery County Circuit Court. Prosecutors say her schemes affected 21 victims between 2022 and 2024, exploiting her position as an attorney entrusted with client funds.
A Breach of Fiduciary Trust
Court records show that Kurland solicited loans from 18 victims for what she described as a short-term “Middle Eastern petroleum deal,” promising high returns tied to overseas oil sales. Those returns never materialized. In separate schemes, prosecutors say she misused escrow funds intended for cryptocurrency transactions and diverted settlement money belonging to a financially struggling small-business client during the COVID-19 period.
In total, investigators estimate losses at approximately $4.22 million.
Kurland is currently being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 28, where she faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison.
Disbarment Followed Earlier Warnings
The criminal case followed years of mounting professional discipline. In May 2025, Kurland was disbarred by consent by the Supreme Court of Maryland after proceedings brought by the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland. The court found violations involving dishonesty, fraud, and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
That disbarment came after an earlier 2021 reprimand related to trust-account record-keeping and fee issues—an episode that, in hindsight, foreshadowed deeper problems. While minor at the time, the reprimand raised questions about whether Maryland’s disciplinary system has sufficient early-warning mechanisms when lawyers handle client funds.
Defense Claims an “Overseas Scam”
Kurland’s attorney, Daniel Suleiman of Covington & Burling LLP, has argued that she herself was targeted by a “complex overseas scam,” which he says will be presented as a mitigating factor at sentencing.
So far, however, no public evidence has been produced identifying overseas perpetrators, explaining how much Kurland allegedly lost, or showing how such a scam justifies diverting client and investor funds. Prosecutors from the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office have focused squarely on victim losses and the abuse of fiduciary duty.
A Broader Policy Lesson
Beyond the individual wrongdoing, the case underscores a larger concern for Maryland’s legal system: how easily trust can be abused when oversight fails or arrives too late. Attorneys hold extraordinary power over escrow and settlement funds, and when that power is misused, victims often lack the resources to recover what was taken.
For a state already grappling with budget pressures and public confidence issues, cases like this highlight the need for strong enforcement, transparency, and accountability—especially among licensed professionals granted special privileges by the state.
Kurland’s sentencing later this spring may bring closure for victims, but it also serves as a cautionary tale: credentials and titles are no substitute for vigilance, and fiduciary misconduct should be met with swift and decisive consequences.
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Attorney Kurland has been my Attorney for more than 20 years. Her services have always been top notch. She’s a very smart experienced Attorney. Something went wrong. Why now after all these years, did this happen? That’s what we should be asking. I’m praying for you Sari.