DA: New Charges for Plainview Attorney

A Plainview attorney who pleaded guilty to grand larceny in July is facing new charges, authorities said.

Matthew Kogan, 40, of Plainview, was arrested by Nassau County District Attorney investigators and arraigned Friday. Kogan is charged with six counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged Instrument, officials said.

Judge Terence Murphy released Kogant on his own recognizance. He faces a max sentence of 2-1/3 to seven years if convicted of the top charge. He is due back in court on Nov. 5, according to authorities.

In March, Kogan, as an attorney hired to begin litigation and execute civil judgments for a Bellmore collection services company, was requested by the company to provide an update regarding the various cases that he was handling. On March 21, Kogan sent one of the company’s employees an email including copies of civil judgments issued by the District Courts of Nassau County and Suffolk County that Kogan claimed to have obtained on behalf of the company’s clients, the DA’s office said.

The company referred the matter to the Nassau DA’s office, whose investigators found that the six judgments were forged, with no judgment entered or filed by the court. Investigators also say that the Suffolk County judgments provided to the company by Kogan were on outdated forms, which were not in use by the court on the alleged date of issue, according to the DA.

Back in July, Kogan pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny for stealing client funds to pay off personal and professional expenses and obligations instead of depositing the funds into his escrow account. He is due back in court for sentencing before Nassau County Court Judge Christopher Quinn on Nov. 12, the DA said.

Having pleaded guilty, Kogan will no longer be able to practice law.

Kogan is represented by Robert McDonald.