Crime & Safety
DA: Plainview Attorney Pleads Guilty to Stealing Client’s Money
As a result of his felony plea, the attorney will no longer be able to practice law, officials said.
A Plainview resident pleaded guilty to charges of directing client funds to pay off personal and professional expenses instead of depositing the funds in an escrow account, authorities said.
Matthew Kogan, 40, pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny charges Friday, according to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.
As a result of his felony plea, Kogan will no longer be able to practice law, the DA's office said. Kogan has repaid the $32,500 he stole from his victims.
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“This defendant stole from clients who put their trust in him to look out for their best interests,” DA Rice said. “Instead, he did the opposite, and as a result, he will no longer be able to practice law and put other clients at risk.”
According to the DA’s office, a Brooklyn husband and wife hired Kogan in February 2013 to represent them in a breach of contract lawsuit. The case was eventually settled in the amount of $32,500, which should have been deposited in his attorney trust account and the funds paid to the couple.
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Instead, the money was deposited into Kogan’s operating account on Oct. 7, 2013. From Oct. 7, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013, funds were withdrawn, or paid from the operating account for Kogan’s personal and professional expenses and obligations, or both. This included payroll, credit card and loan payments, the DA’s office said.
Kogan returned the money back in full to his client prior to pleading guilty, his attorney, Bob McDonald told Newsday, adding, "There's a full acceptance that what he did was wrong."Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
