Queens Lawyer Jailed for 30 Days After Admitting He Raided Late Judge's Estate

A Queens attorney was thrown into jail for 30 days after admitting he raided the late Judge John (Kung Fu) Phillips’ estate for two years, the Daily News has learned.

Frank Racano, who worked as an attorney for Rev. Samuel Boykin — Phillips’s nephew — has been locked up since March 1 for not complying with a court order telling him to account for funds from the more than $2 million auction of the Slave Theater building and nearby property in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

Racano, 54 of Howard Beach, was hauled into Brooklyn Supreme Court by city sheriffs Wednesday. He wore an orange jumpsuit and needed a cane to walk because of a foot injury.

“I tried to stay afloat and it all just snowballed,” Racano told Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Laura Lee Jacobson.

Racano admitted that he “robbed from Peter to pay Paul” by writing checks from Phillips’ estate’s escrow account and putting the money into his personal accounts to pay off debts.

“This estate was used as everyone’s honey pot ... He took an oath as an officer of the court and he violated them,” said Jacobson.

Judge John L. Phillips

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Queens Lawyer Jailed Raiding Late Judge's Estate

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