The Alabama Attorney General’s Office has announced the conviction and sentence of a Montgomery attorney.
John Warren “J.W.” Godwin, 39, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of financial exploitation of the elderly, a Class B felony. The attorney general’s office said the charge stems from the “misuse of his position as a guardian and conservator for an elderly military veteran in need of immediate and long-term care.”
The attorney general’s office said it opened an investigation into Godwin’s conduct in June 2022 after getting information from a local bank that identified suspicious transactions from the victim’s accounts. The department said that investigation revealed that Godwin was court-appointed in 2018 to represent an elderly military veteran who needed emergency protective services and had no family to care for him.
As a condition of Godwin’s plea, he agreed to pay $345,000 in restitution to the victim, which is the value of the home lost in the tax sale. He also agreed to permanently surrender his license with the Alabama State Bar, as well as disclaim any and all bequests, interests, inheritances and duties from any and all last wills and testaments of the victim. He must also pay all other court costs and fees.
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