LI lawyer Stuart Schlesinger sent to prison for bilking clients
A federal judge in Manhattan on Friday sentenced one-time personal injury lawyer Stuart Schlesinger to 6 1/2 years in prison for defrauding his clients and ordered the lawyer to forfeit his multimillion-dollar house in Quogue to help pay back victims.
Schlesinger, 76, was accused of stealing about $5.5 million in settlements from 25 clients over eight years by lying about the status of their cases and withholding some or all of the money they were entitled to. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud.
Prosecutors said he spent the money he stole on his law firm and on a “lavish lifestyle” that included mortgage payments on his house on Dune Road in Quogue, a property with ocean and bay views valued at an estimated $10 million.
Schlesinger’s court filings said the selling price on the property was recently dropped from $11.5 million to $9.99 million to encourage offers. But prosecutors said they were doubtful much would be realized for victims because of liens.
Schlesinger’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.
'Democrats say this is a misuse of taxpayer funds' Nassau Republicans awarded over $1 million in taxpayer-funded legal contracts to the one-man law firm of Sheharyar Ali, a longtime GOP ally. Ali's father is an adviser to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday Nassau County politics reporter Bahar Ostadan have the story.
'Democrats say this is a misuse of taxpayer funds' Nassau Republicans awarded over $1 million in taxpayer-funded legal contracts to the one-man law firm of Sheharyar Ali, a longtime GOP ally. Ali's father is an adviser to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday Nassau County politics reporter Bahar Ostadan have the story.
