Last Updated on: 15th October 2023, 09:27 am

Westchester Embezzlement Lawyer

Hey there! Embezzlement by lawyers in Westchester County, New York has been in the news lately. As a Westchester resident myself, I wanted to break it all down in simple terms. I’m no legal expert, just your average Joe tryin’ to understand what’s going on in my community.

So let’s start with the basics – what exactly is embezzlement? Well, it’s when someone takes money or property that was entrusted to them through their work, and uses it for their own personal gain instead. For example, a lawyer who takes money from a client’s escrow account and spends it on themselves would be commiting embezzlement. Not cool!

Recent Westchester Lawyer Embezzlement Cases

There have been a handful of high profile cases of lawyers in Westchester County accused of embezzlement in recent years. Here’s a quick rundown:

• In 2021, a lawyer named Laurieanne DeLitta from Armonk was indicted on charges she stole $3.5 million from clients in real estate transactions. Yikes!
• Also in 2021, an attorney named Mitchell Greene was disbarred after being accused of stealing $4 million from clients through shady real estate deals.
• In 2019, a lawyer named Guy Parisi pleaded guilty to embezzling money from a client’s estate that he was appointed to manage.
• And in 2018, an attorney named Anthony Parisi was indicted for trying to embezzle funds from a deceased client’s estate.

Yikes again! As you can see, lawyers taking money that isn’t theirs seems to be a disturbingly common issue in Westchester County. The amounts of money involved are staggering too – millions of dollars stolen from hard working folks.

How Do They Do It?

You might be wondering, how do these lawyers manage to embezzle such large sums from their clients? Well, there’s a few schemes they seem to use frequently:

• Taking money from client escrow accounts – This is where funds from real estate deals or court settlements are held, and lawyers will transfer it to themselves.
• Pocketing proceeds from property sales – When representing a client selling a home, the lawyer will keep the profits instead of disbursing them.
• Misusing power of attorney – Lawyers will abuse their legal authority over a client’s assets and accounts.
• Billing fraud – Charging clients excessive fees for work that was never done.

With their legal knowledge and access, unscrupulous attorneys have plenty of ways to siphon off money. And once they have it, they spend the ill-gotten gains on stuff like luxury cars, vacations, and real estate.

How To Protect Yourself

The million dollar question – how can you avoid becoming a victim of an embezzling lawyer? Here’s some tips:

• Carefully vet attorneys before hiring – Check credentials, reviews, certifications, and disciplinary history.
• Review billing statements closely – Make sure you understand what you’re being charged for.
• Use client trust accounts wisely – Only put necessary funds in escrow, review activity.
• Monitor your accounts – Watch for any unauthorized transactions.
• Don’t grant unnecessary access – Be cautious about giving power of attorney.
• Follow up on transactions – Confirm proceeds from real estate deals and settlements are received.

Basically, you want to be proactive and keep an eye on things. If you notice any red flags with an attorney, don’t hesitate to speak up or find new representation. Nobody wants to get ripped off!

What Happens To Embezzling Lawyers?

When lawyers are caught embezzling, what happens? Well first, they’ll almost certainly be disbarred – meaning they lose their license to practice law. Beyond that, there can be both civil and criminal penalties.

On the civil side, they will likely get sued by their victims to recover stolen money and other damages. The settlements can be pretty large, like the $6 million a disbarred Westchester lawyer had to pay back to his former clients.

In criminal court, they can face charges like fraud, larceny, money laundering, and tax evasion. Penalties can include fines, restitution, probation, or even prison time. An attorney from Westchester got sentenced to nearly 4 years in federal prison for embezzlement.

The moral of the story? Stealing from your clients can totally ruin your career and land you in serious legal trouble. So don’t do it!

How To Report Suspicious Activity

If you suspect your lawyer may be embezzling or engaged in other misconduct, here’s how to file a complaint in New York:

• Contact the Attorney Grievance Committee for your judicial district.
• Reach out to the New York State Attorney General.
• For federal cases, submit a complaint to the U.S. Courts.
• You can also report theft to your local police department.

The more people who speak up about unethical and illegal activity, the better. We all have to do our part to hold shady lawyers accountable!

The Takeaway

No one wants to get ripped off by someone they trusted to help them, like a lawyer. But embezzlement seems to be a persistent problem, especially in places like Westchester County unfortunately. So stay vigilant when choosing attorneys, keep an eye on your accounts, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you notice anything sketchy. Together we can clean up the legal profession, one embezzler at a time!

Let me know if you have any other questions. Wishing you and your money well!

References:

• Disbarred Armonk lawyer indicted on charges she stole $3.5 million from clients
• Westchester Lawyer Accused of Stealing $4M in Clients’ Real Estate Proceeds Disbarred
• Westchester Attorney Pleads Guilty to Charge of Embezzlement from Estate
• Westchester Attorney Indicted For Fraud And False Statement Charges Arising From His Attempt To Embezzle From A Decedent’s Estate For Which He Was Court-Appointed Administrator