Lawyer charged with scamming client arrested
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E. Larry Kovel, a suspended South Hills lawyer accused of scamming a client and practicing law without a license, was arrested at a Downtown pawn shop today attempting to sell his wife's jewelry.
Mr. Kovel, 58, whose last known address was in Mt. Lebanon, apparently had been living in an apartment in Carnegie and told police he was unaware there was a warrant out for his arrest.
He was turned over to police by Eddie Lowy, a former Eagle Scout who runs Banner Coin Exchange on Fourth Avenue, shortly after he entered the store.
Mr. Lowy had followed news accounts last week that the Allegheny County district attorney was seeking Mr. Kovel on charges that he bilked a woman out of several thousand dollars by promising to represent her son on criminal charges, then collected the money and failed to attend the hearing. An affidavit filed in the case said Mr. Kovel had shown up at the Courthouse smelling of alcohol. At the time, he had allowed his state registration to lapse and was not licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania. He has since been suspended.
"He came in and he said he had some of his wife's jewelry to sell," said Mr. Lowy, who said he recalled Mr. Kovel from a time several years ago when he sold items to him. "I asked him would he mind sitting in a chair over there, I need to take care of other people." Mr. Lowy then telephoned the city burglary squad, which dispatched two officers who took Mr. Kovel into custody.
He was taken to Allegheny County Jail to await arraignment on charges of theft by deception and practicing law without a license.
First Published March 9, 2009 5:53 pm
