A federal jury has found Nathan Hardwick, Dustin Johnson's former attorney and top advisor, guilty of embezzling $26 million from the now-bankrupt real estate closing firm with the lawyer's name on it.
The ruling is part of a story that began in 2014, when Johnson filed a lawsuit against Morris Hardwick Schneider claiming the firm conspired to scam him of $3 million with a fake investment opportunity. That $3 million was apparently used to cover debts from Hardwick's elaborate spending, according to Dylan Dethier of Golf.com.
Johnson, who took advise from Hardwick on financial decisions early in his playing career, reached a settlement with the firm for more than $2 million.
Hardwick's luxurious spending included $7 million at casinos, $3 million with a bookie, $635,000 on a trip to the 2014 Open Championship with friends on a private jet, and a round of golf at St. Andrews.
Hardwick, 53, is awaiting sentencing, but according to Dethier, the government will ask for a sentence of roughly 15 years.
