A former Brooklyn, N.Y., lawyer has pleaded guilty to fleecing millions of dollars from guardianship accounts he oversaw for incapacitated seniors and children.
Steven T. Rondos and his law firm, Raia & Rondos, were indicted in January on money laundering and grand larceny charges for stealing more than $4 million. On Wednesday, Rondos pleaded guilty to all 19 counts of the indictment, said his lawyer, Franklin A. Rothman.
Rondos, who has been free on bail, "acknowledged fully that he committed some wrongful takings," Rothman said, but added that the amount taken was "very much in dispute." He said Rondos had paid back around $1 million before any probes had begun. It was later discovered that at least 16 court examiners who oversaw Rondos had signed off on his reports without detecting any red flags. Five examiners resigned in the wake of the investigation and one was suspended.
Rondos, who has since been disbarred, faces six to 18 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 22.
The law firm has pleaded not guilty; its case is on the calendar for Dec. 3.
Source:
Disbarred Attorney Pleads Guilty to Guardian Account Thefts
New York knew about the court examiner problem in 1999 when the NEw York Law Journal ran "Crackdown on Court Examiners."
ReplyDeleteNew York knew about the court examiner problem in 2004 when Robert Kress got caught stealing from guardianships and told how easy it was.
And now - only 20 years later -
16 New York court examiners screwed up on Rondos!
Rondos was formerly vice-chair of the Guardianship Committee of the New York State Bar Association's Elder Law Section.
Rai is the wife part of the law team.
WHAT A SICK JOKE THE SYSTEM IS!
The 16 court examiners should be standing next to Rondos in court to get their punishment as well!
ReplyDeleteSteven T. Rondos and his law firm, Raia & Rondos belong in a prison block along with the "16 court examiners who oversaw Rondos had signed off on his reports without detecting any red flags" who need to join these financial predators wearing costumes as guardians, fiduciaries in positions of trust.
ReplyDeleteThe 16 court examiners are either blind, stupid or they were playing games, failing to do their jobs or could it be they were in colllusion, being compensated for covering up the years and millions of dollars of theft?
IF Rondos does not get the full force of punishment, then the message will be that we are soft on these criminals, soft on crime which is not a deterrent to others who are tempted to steal.
Thank you NASGA for shining a bright light on these crooks 365 days a year by posting these news articles for the world to read, the truth in the news.
This must STOP! What will it take?
I can't believe he's been free on bail all this time.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Rondos was giving kickbacks to the 16 examiners?
ReplyDeleteInteresting - Rondos pleads guilty; his firm pleads not guilty.
ReplyDeleteHe acknowleged freely that he had commited "some wrongful takings."
ReplyDeleteSOME?
$4 mil isn't SOME, Rondos.
And you've paid back about $1 mil. Where's the other $3 mil? Pay that back too.
Geez, I hope he gets sentenced to all 18 years---plus restitution.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget it was the judges that rubberstamped the accountings as well.
ReplyDeleteSo, include them in the list of people who should have seen red flags.
I bet my bottom dollar that the families of the victims complained to the judges and the judges ignored them.
just when you think you seen it all then it gets even worse and wore the judges just rubberstamp whatever comes to the bench from these crooks in suits we are a bunch of chumps i guess as these mobsters make organized crime mob bosses look like altar boys i would rather take my chances with thugs in a dark alley at least i know when i go into an alley at night i am at risk for a mugging and have the choice not to go into the alley what a bunch of disgusting lowlifes throw 'em all in a gator nest
ReplyDeleteCOurt examiners and their close political relationship to the judges and the clerks is a major problem. Its amazing how many frivilous motions they make to generate fees and the judges play along. It now takes many years before an annual report or a final report gets approved, especially in Brooklyn. The system got worse since the "fix" in 2002. As to Rondos, don't believe everything you read, especially from the DA's office. They are not including hundreds of thousands of dollars that were approved by the court and over $1 million he was owed on these cases. Remember, the DA has their own agenda.
ReplyDelete