Florida Supreme Court disbars convicted Tampa lawyer

TAMPA — A Tampa lawyer sent to prison for her role in an investment fraud has been banned from practicing law, the Florida Bar said Thursday.

The disbarred lawyer, Katherine Crase, of 2804 W Aquilla St., had been practicing since 1991.

A federal grand jury accused her and two co-defendants in 2007 of trying to fraudulently raise $30 million through the sale of notes in a company called Precision Explorations.

"The defendants would and did represent that Precision Explorations was in the business of investing in real estate, government securities, hedge funds, banking projects, and other investments, when, in reality, the company had not conducted business of any kind," the indictment said. The fraud was unraveled by undercover FBI agents.

Crase was convicted of seven felonies and sentenced in 2008 to 30 months in prison. Records show she was released in April.