Brooklyn Bookkeeper Faces Criminal Charges
Richard Paul, a bookkeeper with Brooklyn’s public administrator’s office, faces criminal charges for allegedly stealing more than $2.5 million, over a three-year period, from the estates of residents who died without wills. Prosecutors allege that the money that should have gone into the Brooklyn city treasury was diverted to Paul and three others who have also been charged with grand larceny. Paul also faces a criminal charge of defrauding the government. All have pled not guilty and are free on bail.
Each borough, including Brooklyn, has an administrator’s office that sells the property of those who die without a will, takes care of any outstanding debts, and then searches for heirs. If no heirs are found, the proceeds from the estate are incorporated into the city’s finance department. Corruption is said to be a problem in all of the boroughs. In 2009, the city comptroller found such pervasive mismanagement in Brooklyn’s public administrator’s office that he urged residents to create wills as soon as possible.
The district attorney who is prosecuting the Richard Paul case says that he has found a total of seven forged checks since Bruce L. Stein assumed the role of public administrator following the audit. Stein discovered that a check with his signature had been written for over $600,000, but he had not actually signed it. He reported it, and investigators discovered where it had been deposited. That is when the district attorney’s office joined the investigation.
Paul’s criminal attorney in Brooklyn says that it is ridiculous to believe that Paul would have used his own computer password to forge a check. He contends that because Paul had shared his user name and password with people that he trained to use the computer program in the office that prints checks, someone else used the code and computer to engage in the forgeries. If Paul is convicted, he faces a possible 25 years in prison.
Obviously, these are serious criminal charges, and Richard Paul will need to rely on all of the knowledge and breadth of experience that his attorney brings to the case. In fact, anyone who is arrested for a criminal offense needs the assistance of a qualified criminal attorney as soon as possible. The consequences are too far reaching to risk having anyone by your side other than an attorney who will work aggressively to get the best outcome possible for your case.
Brooklyn law enforcement and the media often make it sound as though everyone arrested is guilty, but even those facing criminal charges have guaranteed rights under the law, and a criminal attorney will ensure that those rights are protected and upheld. Contact a criminal attorney in Brooklyn today to get the help that you need in defending yourself.
Criminal Attorney Brooklyn – Victor Knapp, criminalattorney in Brooklyn, is a seasoned New York criminal defense attorney who for 30 years has been fighting diligently for the rights of his clients. Victor Knapp believes in open communication with his clients and will keep you informed at every step of the New York criminal process. He makes sure he is available to address your concerns, and he will involve you in the dynamics and strategies of your case. He will meticulously review the prosecution’s evidence, bringing in expert testimony if necessary. Contact Victor Knapp today at 718.263.9000 or via the web at www.victorknapp.com.
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