Central Islip, NY - June 5, 2015 - David Denenberg, a former New York attorney and former Nassau County Legislator, was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert at the federal courthouse in Central Islip to three months’ imprisonment and three months’ home confinement for defrauding a former client of over $2 million. Denenberg previously pleaded guilty to eight counts of mail fraud in connection with this fraud scheme.
Today’s sentencing was announced by Kelly T. Currie, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Diego Rodriguez, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI).
“Mr. Denenberg stole his client’s money and violated his oath as a member of the bar. Today’s sentence should serve as a reminder that in our nation, no one is above the law,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie.
“Denenberg diverted funds from his client’s checkbook into his own pockets through the false representation of legal services. Today we remind everyone of our commitment to identify those who misuse their position to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers; those responsible will not go unpunished,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Rodriguez.
As detailed in the defendant’s guilty plea allocution and court filings, between November 2006 and June 2014, Denenberg was a partner in the Garden City law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP (DHC), formerly Davidoff Malito & Hutcher LLP (DMH), and sent fraudulent bills to a client for legal services that he never rendered. The client, a corporation based in Port Washington, New York, relied on Denenberg’s false billings and paid DHC/DHM $2,265,004.46.
During the same time period, Denenberg also sent fraudulent expense billings to the client for purported expenses incurred in furtherance of the legal representation, which expenses were never incurred, totaling $126,071.43.
In all, the client paid DHC/DHM $2,342,607.64 for legal services never rendered and expenses never incurred. Denenberg has made full restitution to the client.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Lara Treinis Gatz is in charge of the prosecution.