Instead, according to the state Attorney General's Office, between April 2009 and February 2014, he stashed the cash in his personal bank account and used it to pay for a membership at the Waccabuc Country Club, a BMW, a Lexus, expensive jewelry and other personal items.
Griffin, who lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and has a practice at 77 Pondfield Road in Bronxville, was arraigned Thursday in New Rochelle City Court before Judge Susan Kettner on seven counts of felony grand larceny. He was released without bail and is due back in court on Oct. 7.
"Clients must be able to trust their attorneys, and abusing that trust is both unethical and illegal," state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in announcing Griffin's arrest.
Investigators said the thefts came to light after Griffin was charged with grand larceny in another case earlier this year, in which he was accused of stealing $1.9 million that was supposed to be held in escrow for United Hebrew Cemetery in Staten Island. Griffin had been serving as acting president of the cemetery since 2012, after the former president and his wife were found guilty of embezzling $850,000.
Griffin was indicted on a felony grand larceny charge in February and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted in the Staten Island case; he faces an additional 25 years if convicted of the new charges.
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A.G.: Bronxville lawyer spent clients' cash on club, cars
