Douglas Valente, a former Long Island attorney, has been indicted for the second time, this time having been accused of stealing approximately $400,000 from a client, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
Valente of Boca Raton, Florida, 56, was charged with Grand Larceny only two months after having been previously indicted on two separate Grand Larceny counts in connection with the alleged theft of $425,000 from two other clients of his now-defunct Stony Brook law practice, the DA said.
"Attorneys have a duty to act in the best interests of their clients," Tierney said of Valente. "Not only did this defendant allegedly violate that duty, he also stole from them, and this will not be tolerated.”
Valente’s alleged victims include a 78 year-old client whose home sale he was representing during a divorce proceeding and Guaranteed Rate Inc., a mortgage lender.
The purportedly stolen funds were utilized for Valente’s business and personal expenses, Tierney said. Valente is due back in court on March 3.
The DA’s office urges anyone believing they have been victimized by Valente, please report the incident by calling (631) 853-5602.