DA: Lawyer Took Money Meant for Plea Deal

A former Long Beach man was charged Tuesday with taking money he claimed was part of a plea deal in a gambling case, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Frank Adipietro, 51, was arrested and charged with third-degree grand larceny before Judge Tricia Ferrell, the DA said. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison, officials said.

In February 2013, Adipietro told his client owed $7,500 to cover a civil forfeiture in a criminal gambling case as part of a plea agreement with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, the DA said. Shortly after the client paid him, however, Adipietro slowly fell out of communication with the victim, the DA said.

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In March 2014, the client discovered through another attorney that the Suffolk DA’s plea agreement did not include a $7,500 civil forfeiture, officials said. Adipietro never returned the money to his client and never explained what he did with the money, the DA said.

Investigators also found that Adipietro no longer practices law at his former Hempstead firm and now lives in Orange County, officials said.

Anyone who believes they were a victim of Adipietro can call the NCDA’s tip line at 516-571-7755.

Adipietro is due back in court March 12.

Photo credit: NCDA

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