Four Attorneys Reportedly Stole More than $1 Million from Clients

The Nassau County District Attorney's Office announced the arrest of four attorneys who allegedly stole more than $1 million from their clients in separate incidents by destroying real estate deals.

"The victims in these cases thought that they had attorneys they could trust with their hard-earned money and their dreams for a more secure future," Nassau DA Kathleen Rice said in a statement. "But what they got were four criminals whose only intention was to rob them blind."

The accused lawyers are Richard Gluszak, 59, of Hicksville, Yvonne DeBenedetto, 43, of Bay Shore, Robert Oziel, 65, of Oyster Bay and Eric Finger, 45, of Copiague.

Gluszak is facing two grand larceny counts and up to 15 years in prison. He is accused of stealing over $200,000 from a couple which was to be used for the construction of a new home in 2009 and an additional $400,000 from the couple's step-daughter. 

DeBenedetto is charged with one count each of grand larceny in the second and third degrees and up to 15 years in prison. DeBenedetto was allegedly given a check for $260,000 by a victim for the purchase of a new home. When the purchase fell through, the victim requested her money back. DeBenedetto issued the victim two refund checks in December 2009 and January 2010, both of which bounced.

Robert Oziel is charged with two counts of third degree grand larceny and faces up to seven years in prison. Rice said that in June 2009, Oziel was hired by a man looking to purchase a Muttontown property, giving Oziel two checks totaling $500,000 for the purchase of the property, and a $50,000 down payment. The sale fell through, however, and Oziel's client asked for his money back. Oziel returned the $500,000, but did not return the $50,000 check.

Eric Finger, 45, of Copiague, is charged with two counts of third degree grand larceny and faces up to seven years in prison. Rice said that in late 2009, Finger was hired by a couple to broker the sale of their home and the purchase of a new, smaller home. In February 2010, Finger allegedly told the couple that he would put the $372,000 they made from the sale of their home into an escrow account to be used for the purchase of their new home, costing $285,000, leaving them without about $96,000 in escrow. Finger, however, reportedly only returned $60,000.

Deputy Bureau Chief William Wallace and Assistant District Attorneys Megan Gallagher and Victoria Curran of the Economic Crimes Bureau are handling the cases for the DA's Office.