Florida Supreme Court Suspends Ponte Vedra Attorney After Petit-Theft Plea Tied to Real-Estate Closing

Published Nov. 6, 2026. Case status is current as of that date.

According to The Florida Bar News’s February 1, 2025 report, the Supreme Court of Florida suspended Charles David Franken of Ponte Vedra for three years, effective immediately following a January 2, 2025 order in Case No. SC24-1298, after he was charged with felony criminal conduct related to serving as closing agent for a real-estate transaction whose buyer was later convicted of grand theft and filing false documents, then pled no contest to petit theft and was required to pay $10,000 in restitution [1].

Status: Three-year suspension; order January 2, 2025 (SC24-1298) [1].

What the Bar News reports

According to The Florida Bar News [1]:

1. Franken (admitted 1976) was charged with felony criminal conduct after he performed as the closing agent for a real-estate transaction for which the buyer was later convicted of grand theft and filing false documents.
2. Franken pled no contest to the misdemeanor charge of Petit Theft and was required to pay $10,000 in restitution.

The attorney suspended

Charles David Franken, Ponte Vedra, Florida. Admitted 1976. Three-year suspension January 2, 2025 (SC24-1298) [1].

Case status (as of Nov. 6, 2026)

Respondent	Court	Status	Source
Charles David Franken, Ponte Vedra	Supreme Court of Florida, SC24-1298	Suspended 3 years; order Jan. 2, 2025	[1]

Attorneys suspended 91 days or longer must prove rehabilitation to regain their licenses under Florida’s system.

Sources

1. The Florida Bar News, “February 1, 2025 Disciplinary Actions” (reporting Supreme Court order in SC24-1298). https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/february-1-2025-disciplinary-actions/