A Washington, DC area man who billed families thousands of dollars as a special education attorney despite not having a valid law license, was convicted this week on several counts of fraud.

Numerous parents report hiring Howard D. Deiner to help them in disputes with school districts over special education services at a cost of nearly $300 an hour. However, they say Deiner did little to aid them, often failing to respond to phone calls or e-mails and not returning documents or money owed.

Meanwhile, Deiner never disclosed to his clients that he was not licensed to practice law in Virginia and had let his license lapse in the District of Columbia.

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This week Deiner was convicted by a Virginia judge on four felony fraud charges and one misdemeanor for practicing without a license. He faces two to 10 years in jail for each felony count, reports The Washington Post. To read more click here.

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