N.Y. attorney utilised legislation company as ‘personal gold mine,’ prosecutors cost

(Reuters) – A New York attorney stole additional than $1.2 million from his law firm and spent it on a diamond-encrusted Cartier view, a $57,000 diamond ring, household credit card costs and other particular bills, Manhattan prosecutors explained Wednesday.

Arthur Cohen, 71, was billed with 35 counts which include grand larceny, criminal tax fraud, supplying a untrue instrument for filing, falsifying small business records and perjury.

Cohen did not immediately respond to a request for remark.

As senior fairness lover and treasurer of Manhattan’s now-defunct Gordon & Silber, Cohen utilised the company as his “individual gold mine at the cost of his associates and co-staff,” Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg said in a assertion.

In addition to the $40,000 diamond watch, ring and other buys, Cohen allegedly made use of stolen company funds for luxury lodge stays, to “service luxurious automobiles” and to pay out extra than $100,000 for his son’s American Express card.

To cover his tracks, Cohen fabricated accounting entries and cost reports, prosecutors explained.

The plan lasted from January 2014 to February 2020, when Cohen was suspended from Gordon & Silber, prosecutors claimed. The organization demanded he repay at the very least some of the dollars, but alternatively Cohen sued the firm in New York County Supreme Court, in accordance to the D.A.’s office environment and court documents.

Cohen submitted paperwork containing false information and facts in the civil situation and fully commited perjury when he falsely denied thieving from the agency, prosecutors reported. That scenario remained energetic as of last month.

Leah Kelman, a companion at Herrick Feinstein who is representing Cohen in the civil situation, declined to remark.

(Updated with facts on an attorney for Cohen.)

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