Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today issued a statement on the sentencing of MARC BERNSTEIN, a lawyer who stole more than $3.1 million from 28 of his clients and failed to pay income taxes, to 2 ½ – 7 ½ years in state prison. In April 2010, BERNSTEIN pled guilty to all of the charges against him: 16 counts of Grand Larceny in the Second and Third Degrees, two counts of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, and two counts Repeated Failure to File Income Tax Returns. As of this sentencing, the defendant has failed to repay any of the more than $3.5 million that the Court ordered as restitution to the victims.
District Attorney Vance said: “The defendant is a predator with a law degree. He deliberately failed to pay his federal and state taxes, and then showed his contCoempt for his victims and the Court by failing to pay any of the more than $3.5 million in restitution ordered by the Court. Rather than safeguarding funds that his clients were awarded through medical malpractice and personal injury settlements, BERNSTEIN instead heartlessly raided them. Today’s sentence serves as a deterrent to other professionals who would consider violating their oaths.”
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorney Leah Keith of the Special Prosecution Bureau, as well as Assistant District Attorney Maurice Mathis, who handled the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gilda Mariani, Chief of the Money Laundering and Tax Crimes Unit. Chief Financial Investigator Robert Demarest also assisted.
District Attorney Vance also thanked attorney Eileen Shields of Departmental Disciplinary Committee of the First Judicial Department, who worked under the direction of Chief Counsel Alan W. Friedberg. He also thanked Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward, Deputy Commissioner William Comiskey, and Auditor Elias Del Rosario of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their assistance.
Defendant information:
MARC BERNSTEIN, D.O.B. 10/8/54
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 9 counts
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D Felony, 7 counts
Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts
Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
Repeated Failure to File Personal Income and Earnings Taxes, a class E felony, 2 counts
SENTENCE:
2 ½ - 7 ½ years in state prison
$3,503,693.00 in restitution payments to victims
District Attorney Vance said: “The defendant is a predator with a law degree. He deliberately failed to pay his federal and state taxes, and then showed his contCoempt for his victims and the Court by failing to pay any of the more than $3.5 million in restitution ordered by the Court. Rather than safeguarding funds that his clients were awarded through medical malpractice and personal injury settlements, BERNSTEIN instead heartlessly raided them. Today’s sentence serves as a deterrent to other professionals who would consider violating their oaths.”
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorney Leah Keith of the Special Prosecution Bureau, as well as Assistant District Attorney Maurice Mathis, who handled the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gilda Mariani, Chief of the Money Laundering and Tax Crimes Unit. Chief Financial Investigator Robert Demarest also assisted.
District Attorney Vance also thanked attorney Eileen Shields of Departmental Disciplinary Committee of the First Judicial Department, who worked under the direction of Chief Counsel Alan W. Friedberg. He also thanked Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward, Deputy Commissioner William Comiskey, and Auditor Elias Del Rosario of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their assistance.
Defendant information:
MARC BERNSTEIN, D.O.B. 10/8/54
New York, N.Y.
CONVICTED:
Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 9 counts
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D Felony, 7 counts
Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, 2 counts
Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count
Repeated Failure to File Personal Income and Earnings Taxes, a class E felony, 2 counts
SENTENCE:
2 ½ - 7 ½ years in state prison
$3,503,693.00 in restitution payments to victims
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