Georgia Supreme Court Disbars Lawyer William T. Payne
The attorney faced disciplinary action following a felony conviction for violating the state's RICO Act.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Financial Crime
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The Georgia Supreme Court has officially disbarred attorney William T. Payne. The move follows his no-contest plea to a felony RICO charge linked to the solicitation of clients through stolen police records.
Why it matters
The disbarment serves as a professional consequence for a felony conviction involving the misuse of sensitive police accident logs. This ruling highlights the legal system's commitment to maintaining ethical standards for attorneys practicing in Georgia.
Payne was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service for his role in the scheme. He remains responsible for paying $85,000 in court-ordered restitution.
The players
William T. Payne
He is a former lawyer based in Decatur who operated a legal practice before his disbarment.
Georgia Supreme Court
This is the highest judicial body in Georgia that oversees attorney licensing and professional conduct.
DeKalb County Police Department
This local law enforcement agency manages accident reporting systems that were compromised in the solicitation scheme.
The details
Payne allegedly built his legal practice by obtaining client information through illegally accessed DeKalb County Police Department accident logs. Co-defendants in the case were accused of breaching police reporting systems to provide the attorney with accident data.
Timeline
September 2025: Payne entered a no-contest guilty plea.
October 14, 2026: The Georgia Supreme Court disbarred William T. Payne.
Legal Context
The use of the Georgia RICO Act to prosecute white-collar crimes represents a broader trend of leveraging anti-racketeering statutes against various forms of systemic corruption. This approach has increasingly been used to address non-violent offenses involving organized professional misconduct.
The compromise of police accident logs may necessitate new security protocols for the DeKalb County Police Department to protect citizen information. Residents involved in recent accidents should monitor their communications to ensure their personal data was not improperly accessed.
The takeaway
Attorneys are held to strict ethical standards, and felony convictions related to practice often lead to permanent loss of licensure. Legal professionals should ensure their data acquisition methods comply with state law to avoid severe criminal and career consequences.
Further reading
For more on legal enforcement in the state, visit Georgia Financial Crime.
Live Poll
Should lawyers who solicit clients using stolen information be permanently disbarred?
