S. Jersey lawyer sentenced for fraudulently expanding asbestos lawsuits

A former Camden County lawyer was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for falsifying defendants' names in asbestos lawsuits for his personal benefit, federal prosecutors said.

Arobert C. Tonagbanua, 47, of Sicklerville, pleaded guilty to fraudulently adding defendant names to more than 100 legitimate asbestos lawsuits filed in New York state courts.

Tonagbanua, who worked for a Haddonfield law firm, received bonuses and increased compensation, prosecutors said. The fraudulent acts generated more than $1 million in fees, costs, and settlements.

- Robert Moran