Manhasset Attorney Stole $230K From Client: DA

An attorney from Manhasset was arrested Wednesday for stealing $229,990 from a client and using that money to make “extravagant purchases,” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.

Alfred DiGirolomo, Jr., 61, was arraigned and charged with second-degree grand larceny and five counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. He faces five to 15 years in prison if convicted.

“These thefts are particularly egregious because the defendant allegedly used the money he stole from his client for extravagant purchases – like country club dues and car payments,” Singas said in a press release.

According to the DA, DiGirolomo represented his restauranteur client in three different lawsuits from Jan. 1, 2014 to May 5, 2015 and received $229,900 to fund settlements. In each of the lawsuits, the DA says DiGirolomo sent a forged stipulation of settlement or satisfaction of judgement to his client to say the matter had been resolved, when they had not been.

His client asked a new attorney that represents him to check whether there were satisfactions of judgement filed with the courts and the new attorney discovered that nothing was filed, the DA said. The attorney then contacted the NCDA and a case was opened in January 2017.

DiGirolomo spent the money on purchases unrelated to the client instead of using the money to fund the lawsuits, the DA said. He allegedly spent the money on expenses for credit cards, utilities, gasoline, cars, insurance, department stores, a civic association, a figure skating club, a cigar club and a country club.

DiGirolomo is being represented by Esq. James Froccaro. Patch reached out to Froccaro for comment and will update the article with a statement once it becomes available.

DiGirolomo was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on July 6.

Image via NCDA