Former Attorney Sentenced for Stealing $1M+ from Clients

SCARSDALE, N.Y. - A former attorney was sentenced to prison for stealing more than $1 million from his real estate clients.

Michael Lippman, 71, of Scarsdale, will serve two to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to three felonies: second-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal tax fraud and first-degree scheme to defraud.

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Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty said Lippman was also ordered to pay restitution for the 13 victims in the amount of $1,487,461.61. He must also pay the state Department of Taxation and Finance $172,393.

Lippman was a licensed attorney in the state when, between Jan. 1, 2010 and Sept. 15, 2015, he engaged in a scheme in which he deliberately defrauded multiple clients of money they entrusted to him for various purposes including the transfer of real estate and estate planning.

Lippman is alleged to have stolen from one client about $431,300 that was intended to complete the purchase of property.

In another instance, he allegedly stole from a client $159,431.95 that was intended to pay off a mortgage to forestall a foreclosure action on the client’s property.