Gregory Port, left, pleaded guilty Monday to a second-degree felony charge of theft relating to his time as an estate administrator.
Charlotte Caldwell | The Lima News
OTTAWA — A man who lives near Columbus pleaded guilty Monday in the Putnam County Common Pleas Court to a second-degree felony theft charge for using estate funds for personal use while working as the estate administrator.
Gregory Port, 66, said he has “deep regret” for taking $936,747.02 from a local estate, a decision he said resulted in the loss of the career he loved and his relationship with his wife. The state is asking for that money back in restitution when Port is sentenced.
A pre-sentence investigation will be conducted and Port will be sentenced on Nov. 21.
According to Port’s biography on the Ohio Attorney General’s website, Port is the founding attorney for the Ohio Center for Elder Law and Trusts.
“Greg has been providing strategic elder law, estate planning and probate legal representation to clients in central Ohio since 1990,” the bio reads.
In a separate case, a complaint in the Ohio Supreme Court filed in October 2023 claimed Port “violated the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct by misappropriating client funds, falsifying bank records, and charging clearly excessive fees.” The complaint then details four incidents showing misconduct.
“Respondent was previously indefinitely suspended for multiple ethics violations, including dishonesty and mishandling client funds, on July 7, 2004… and reinstated on Aug. 23, 2011,” the complaint read.
Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
