TALLAHASSEE — Kissimmee attorney and former assistant statewide prosecutor Thomas Anthony Sadaka faces indefinite suspension following an Oct. 15 Florida Supreme Court order following his conviction on a theft charge, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
"In May, the state of Florida charged Sadaka with a scheme to defraud $50,000 or more, a first-degree felony, and grand theft of $100,000 or more, a first-degree felony," the state bar said in its Oct. 31 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order. "In September, Sadaka pleaded no contest to the lesser included offense of grand theft of $20,000 or more, a second-degree felony. A trial court subsequently withheld adjudication of guilt and sentenced Sadaka to 10 years' probation."
Sadaka was required to pay court costs and restitution in the matter and the state dismissed the scheme-to-defraud charge, according to the state bar's announcement.
Sadaka's suspension will be effective 30 days from the date of the court's order to allow time to close his practice and protect his existing clients' interests, according to the high court's order.
The court also referred the matter to 10th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Donald G. Jacobsen of Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties to appoint a referee.
Florida court orders are not final until time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion does not alter the effective date of Sadaka's suspension.
Sadaka was admitted to the bar in Florida on Jan. 16, 1992, according to his profile at the state bar website.
The suspension is Sadaka's second in as many years. In April 2017, the state Supreme Court suspended him for 90 days after he agreed to a consent judgment in which he acknowledged representing clients in one law firm only to bill them through his own. The other law firm ultimately accused Sadaka of diverting funds, according to the consent judgment.
In November 2001, while Sadaka was an assistant statewide prosecutor, he testified before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means about computer crime and identity-theft prosecution in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.