Three lawyers allegedly stole a combined total of more than $1 million from their clients in separate real estate deals and a fourth attorney stole a part of a life insurance payout to a grieving widow, Nassau County prosecutors said. All four are facing charges of grand larceny in Nassau County court.
In July, 65-year-old Robert Oziel of Oyster Bay was arrested for allegedly refusing to turn over more than $18,000 being held in an escrow account on behalf of a couple he represented in a housing dispute in 2008, prosecutors said. He also was accused of withholding $50,000 from a man who hired Oziel in a $500,000 Muttontown property deal that later fell through.
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“We’re taking the position that he’s not guilty,” said his Garden City based attorney, Kevin Keating.
Eric Finger, 45, of Copiague, was arrested last month after Finger allegedly kept $36,000 worth of funds he held in an escrow account on behalf of a couple that hired him while they bought a new home in 2009, prosecutors said. Earlier this year in a separate real estate deal, Finger allegedly stole a broker’s $7,000 commission check, prosecutors said.
“Mr. Finger is working with the district attorney’s office to alleviate any and all discrepancies,” said his Manhattan-based attorney, Jonathan Davidoff. He added: “He is working to make sure that all his clients are made whole.”
Richard Gluszak was arrested Monday after the 59-year-old Hicksville man allegedly stole $204,000 that was left over from a couple who had a new home built for them last year, prosecutors said. Soon after, Gluszak used $400,000 life insuriance beneficiary funds entrusted to him to pay the taxes on a woman’s late husband’s estate, but the lawyer kept the money for himself, prosecutors said.
“I think it’s more of a commercial dispute rather than an intentional grand larceny,” said Garden City-based attorney Martin Geduldig, who represents Gluszak.
Yvonne DeBenedetto was arrested Tuesday for issuing bad checks—one for $30,000 and two for $260,000—to two separate couples she represented in real estate deals last year, prosecutors said. Attorney information for the 43-year-old Bay Shore woman was not immediately available.
All were released without bail except for DeBenedetto, whose bail was set at $10,000.
“The victims in these cases thought that they had attorneys they could trust with their hard-earned money and their dreams for a more secure future,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. “But what they got were four criminals whose only intention was to rob them blind.”
Their licenses to practice law will be subject to disciplinary action after the conclusion of their cases.
Yvonne = trailer trash
That Yvonne us ugly!! Dam beat her with the ugly stick….
These four represent our legal system? Especially Debenedetto you would not want for a lawyer. She is what you call a crooked lawyer for sure!!!!
Take a look at the lower left photo, folks. That’s Eric Finger. Looks sort of demented, right? Let’s take a look at what happened and see what kind of thuggery is left out there by the NY Bar Association. Eric Finger was arrested ALLLL the way back in 2009 for similar shenanigans to the tune of 9 Million $ along with about a dozen other larcenists. This time he was arrested in August 2010, BUT that didn’t slow old “Eric the Finger” down! He stole from ME PERSONALLY over 50k AFTER being arrested and released on BOND! This is what NY justice is all about, folks: Steal as much as you can, as fast as you can and let the chips fall where they may. WHILE OUT ON BOND, Eric The Finger stole from at least 2 more people that I know of. After one such arrest and the sulfurous odor of guilt about him in 2009 and a SECOND arrest in 2010, the NY Bar association failed to remove his diseased carcass permanently.
I’m not sure I can believe in a state where such things are allowed to happen. Granted Mr Eric the Finger seems a tad askew and he might not be all there, but, even so, where is the logic in letting him practice law after his 2009 arrest?? Thank GOD he is now in FEDERAL prison and the state of NY has nothing to do with this anymore. Hopefully he will meet a nice cellmate in jail who has also lost his down payment… That’s the kind of justice I’m talking about!
more coming. I’m not through with Eric the Finger yet.
Hey Eric-
Hope this mail finds the “probe” of your criminal activites “hard” and “uncomfortable” in your jail cell, you miserable louse. I will be attending your trial, you thieving SOB. I’ll be the one with a pitchfork and a torch. If justice is not served (meaning your conviction and ultimate incarceration), I will attend to it in my own way.
Thanks for stealing over 50K from me, jerkoff. Rot in hell. Bend over, Eric. This won’t hurt for long…
Lawyer like this give one pause about the entire NY legal community. I certainly hope that the NY Bar Association understands the gravity and depth of the corruption in this state. Last I heard there were 900 such cases pending. NINE HUNDRED lawyer problems in NY! Don’t hire a lawyer folks. Just make your own justice. Eric Finger deserves a seat on the tip of a red hot poker. That’s my kind of justice.
We recently hired Mr. Finger to be our lawyer for a house purchase. What a scam artist! I hope he gets what he deserves!
Dishonest lawyers…?..What a surprise!