NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Brooklyn lawyer was arraigned on Thursday on an indictment charging him with stealing close to $1.5 million from three clients during estate sales, prosecutors said.
Salvatore Strazzullo, 51, represented clients during their real estate sales and allegedly withheld funds, according to the indictment.
"Attorneys have an ethical duty to protect their clients' interests, and we will hold accountable those who use their trusted position to steal from Brooklyn residents," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "The defendant in this case is a lawyer who allegedly betrayed his clients and failed to provide them with their money. Instead, he is accused of violating the trust of vulnerable individuals and using their funds to pay creditors and other expenses."
In one instance, he represented a 79-year-old woman in the sale of her house for over $1.2 million. Following the closing in September, the client reportedly requested her funds but Strazzullo allegedly gave excuses and delayed the disbursement, leaving her without access to her money.
In another case, Strazzullo represented an 80-year-old man in the sale of his property with the closing taking place in July 2022. A year later, the client sought the remaining balance of nearly $170,000 from the sale, but Strazzullo allegedly didn't provide the funds.
In the third case, Strazzullo was representing a 52-year-old woman in Surrogate's Court proceedings related to her late husband's estate. Strazzullo held the funds in his attorney escrow account and gave some of it to the client.
However, starting in May, the client repeatedly requested him to send over the remaining which was nearly $96,000. Strazzullo " allegedly made excuses, stalled, delayed and, to date, has not turned over that money."
Strazzullo allegedly used the fund to pay creditors or to pay expenses that had no connection to the clients' legal matters, according to prosecutors.
Strazzullo is facing charges that include first-degree grand larceny, second-degree grand larceny, and first-degree scheme to defraud.
Strazzullo was released without bail and has been ordered to return to court on Jan. 17, 2024.
