A disbarred attorney who life in Bayside has been charged with grand larceny and other crimes for allegedly bilking a lot more than 40 consumers out of nearly $620,000, according to the Queens District Attorney’s business.
According to District Legal professional Melinda Katz, Yohan Choi, 47, of 23rd Avenue in Bayside, allegedly represented the victims in personalized personal injury promises and allegedly unsuccessful to give his shoppers their share of the settlements
Choi was arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 22 ahead of Queens Criminal Court docket Choose Scott Dunn on a 44-count grievance. He is charged with grand larceny in the next degree, 41 counts of grand larceny in the 3rd diploma and the exercise of regulation by attorney who has been disbarred, suspended or convicted of a felony.
According to rates, Choi held lender accounts for his legislation apply at Chase, Capitol One and HSBC relationship again to at least August 2015. A forensic assessment of the accounts showed dozens of deposits for lawsuit settlements on behalf of Choi’s consumers.
According to the criticism, in November 2016, a female Choi represented in a personal personal injury circumstance agreed to a settlement for $52,500. The target was entitled to just around $35,000. Even while a examine from the insurance policy enterprise paying the settlement was allegedly deposited into the defendant’s account, the woman hardly ever obtained any funds, Katz reported.
Another woman Choi represented in a personal damage situation agreed to settle for $75,000 in May perhaps 2018, in accordance to the grievance. Right after the lawyer’s price and other bills have been deducted, the victim was entitled to $50,250. Choi allegedly never turned about that revenue, despite the insurance policies enterprise depositing a check out for $75,000 into his account.
In addition, according to Katz, a guy who also employed the defendant to characterize him in a individual injury make a difference agreed to settle his scenario for $45,000 and was entitled to receive $30,150. The investigation confirmed that Choi’s lender account on May perhaps 12, 2020, allegedly been given a check out for $45,000 from an coverage corporation. Nevertheless, a few times later that exact same escrow account’s equilibrium totaled just $423. The target by no means received the cash he was owing, in accordance to Katz.
According to the fees, the defendant recurring this scheme at least 41 times more than the system of five yrs, leaving shoppers empty handed. In all these circumstances, Choi’s business enterprise accounts obtained the settlement checks that totaled more than $600,000, but his victims were being under no circumstances issued a check out for their accidents, in accordance to Katz.
Choi’s license to exercise regulation was suspended on November 20, 2017.
“Despite becoming disbarred, this defendant allegedly ongoing to stand for purchasers and effectively achieved settlements on dozens of own injury cases,” Katz mentioned. “But, alternatively of using his fair share of the proceeds, this former legal professional is accused of pocketing all of the settlement cash — victimizing his clientele a second time.”
Choose Dunn set the defendant’s return day for Dec. 30, 2021. If convicted Choi faces up to 15 decades in prison.