FARGO – A former Fargo attorney disbarred in June for using her clients’ money to support a methamphetamine habit has been charged after a weekend drug task force raid on her home.
Rebecca Lee Lawler was charged Monday in Cass County District Court with one count of possession of methamphetamine and one of drug paraphernalia, both Class C felonies.
According to court documents, Cass County drug task force agents executed a search warrant about 10:30 a.m. Friday at the home of Rebecca Lee Lawler, 2205 9th Ave. S.
The search was based on information task force officers had from confidential informants in April and July that another person was selling methamphetamines out of Lawler’s home, the search warrant states.
Officers also collected a sealed trash bag from in front of the home on July 22 that had multiple cut straws and baggies with meth residue in them, plus pieces of broken glass with meth residue, the search warrant states.
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During execution of the search warrant, officers seized several glass pipes, more baggies and cut straws with meth residue, a butane burner and a digital scale, the search warrant states.
Lawler was disbarred in June after the North Dakota Supreme Court found she had spent the previous three years using methamphetamine and crack cocaine while neglecting her work and her clients.
In addition to an estimated $19,984 owed her clients, she misappropriated more than $8,000 from her father’s estate, the state Supreme Court found.
Lawler’s disbarment order said she participated in an outpatient drug program and had not used drugs or alcohol since January 2013.
Her next court appearance is set for Sept. 10.
