Nassau Attorney Stole $300K From Clients: DA

MERRICK, NY — An attorney from Merrick who now lives in Arizona was arraigned Friday and charged with stealing nearly $300,000 from two clients, according to the Nassau district attorney. Arnab Bhukta, 38, was charged with grand larceny and two counts of possession of a forged instrument. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Jan. 24. If convicted of the top charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

"Attorneys have a duty to act in their clients’ interests, but this defendant allegedly betrayed his clients’ trust and stole nearly $300,000 from their personal injury settlements," Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. "My office has held more than 25 crooked attorneys accountable because of the great harm they do to their clients and the legal profession, and we encourage anyone else victimized by this defendant to come forward."

According to Singas, in July 2013, a client hired Bhukta to represent him in a personal injury case after a car crash. When the claim was settled with the client's insurance company, Singas said that Bhukta forged his client's signature on a "release of all claims" form and collected $10,000 without telling his client. Bhukta was only entitled to one third of the settlement, Singas said.

In May 2015, a second client hired Bhukta to represent him in a disability claim, Singas said. When the claim was settled, Singas said the insurance company mailed a $475,000 check to Bhukta, who deposited it into his escrow account. However, after the client requested the money from Bhukta many times, Singas said he only paid $90,000, instead of the $380,000 he was owed. Bhukta was entitled to 20 percent of the settlement as payment, Singas said.

In total, Singas said Bhukta stole $296,700 from the two clients.

Both of the clients filed complaints with the New York Lawyer's Fund for Client Protection and received their money back in full. Bhukta was disbarred on July 17, 2019.

Bhukta spent the money on work and personal expenses, Singas said.

Singas asked that anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of Bhukta to call the Nassau DA’s Tip Line at 516-571-7755.