Nassau County DA Pinches Attorney For Allegedly Ripping Off Nearly $230K From One Client; Funds Intended For Use In Settling Three Lawsuits

From the Office of the Nassau County, New York District Attorney:

• Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest today [May 24] of a Manhasset attorney who allegedly stole $229,990 from a client.(1)
  
  Alfred DiGirolomo, Jr., 61, was arraigned today before Judge Paul Meli and charged with Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) and five counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd Degree (a D felony). The defendant was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on July 6. If convicted, the defendant faces five to 15 years in prison.
  
  “These thefts are particularly egregious because the defendant allegedly used the money he stole from his client for extravagant purchases – like country club dues and car payments,” DA Singas said. “Lawyers who betray their clients’ trust by stealing their money will be aggressively prosecuted by my office and if this defendant is convicted, we will seek restitution for this victim.”
  
  DA Singas said from January 1, 2014, to May 5, 2016, DiGirolomo represented a client, a restaurateur, in three different lawsuits and the attorney received $229,900 to fund settlements resulting from the three lawsuits. In each of the suits, the defendant allegedly sent a forged stipulation of settlement or satisfaction of judgement to his client to say the matter had been resolved, when in fact they had not. The client then asked a new attorney that represents him to check whether there were satisfactions of judgement filed with the courts.
  
  When the new attorney discovered that no satisfaction of judgment was filed with the court, he then contacted the NCDA and a case was opened in January 2017.
  
  Instead of using the money to fund the lawsuits, the defendant allegedly used it to pay for expenses related to credit cards, utilities, gasoline, automobiles, insurance, department stores, a civic association, a figure skating club, a cigar club, and a country club – all of which were unrelated to his client.

Source: Manhasset Attorney Arrested for Stealing Nearly $230,000 from Client.

-----------------

(1) For "attorney ripoff reimbursement funds" that sometimes help cover the financial mess created by the dishonest conduct of lawyers licensed in other states and Canada, see:

• Directory Of Lawyers' Funds For Client Protection (February 2017) (includes Canadian recovery funds, courtesy of the American Bar Association);
• Check the USA Client Protection Funds Map;
• Check the Canada Client Protection Funds Map.

Maps available courtesy of The National Client Protection Organization, Inc.  ripoff reimbursement