Franklin Lakes Lawyer Stole Clients' Money, Then Ghosted Them, Prosecutors Allege

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A lawyer who lives in Franklin Lakes has been charged with misappropriating clients' money, as well as identity theft, forgery, and other charges, said prosecutors.

Martin Fishman, 72, was charged Tuesday with theft by deception, misapplication of entrusted property, failure to make required disposition of property received, impersonation, and forgery, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors noted that his law license has already been revoked in New York State and suspended in New Jersey.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that "Starting in May 2023, four victims reported to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit that, as early as 2014, they had been involved in real estate transactions with Martin S. Fishman, who had not repaid his loans, fraudulently drafted mortgage notes, dispersed bounced checks for real estate closings, misapplied funds intended for an attorney trust account, and then ceased communication with those attempting to recoup their money."

The stolen funds totaled over $600,000, prosecutors said.

After his arrest on Tuesday, Fishman was taken to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, prosecutors said.