BROOKLYN MAN ALLEGEDLY POSES AS LAWYER TO COLLECT FEES FROM SMALL BUSINESSES FOR SERVICES NOT RENDERED

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the arrest of a Brooklyn man on charges that he took fees from small business owners who believed him to be a lawyer and then never rendered any services.

District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Ismael Rodriguez, 47, of 131 Monroe Street, Brooklyn who, according to the charges, between October 1998 and February 2000 told people that he was an attorney and that he could help them file the papers necessary to open a restaurant and get a liquor license. He is charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2°, Grand Larceny 3° and Practicing or Appearing as an Attorney at Law without being Admitted and Registered. He faces a maximum term of seven years in prison if convicted.

District Attorney Brown said, "We urge residents to be very careful when hiring professionals to work for them. Organizations like bar associations and the State’s Office of Court Administration can verify whether or not an individual is licensed to practice law. Hopefully full restitution of the funds allegedly taken will result from his prosecution."

According to charges, the defendant introduced himself as a lawyer to people trying to open restaurants which could sell alcohol. It is alleged that he accepted fees and provided documents which he claimed were certificates of incorporation, liquor licenses and sales tax certificates.

The investigation was carried out by Detective Philip Smith and Detective Sergeant Richard Scantlebury of the District Attorney’s Detective Bureau under the supervision of Chief Edward T. Brady. Assistant District Attorney Phyllis C. Weiss of the District Attorney’s Integrity Bureau, which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney James M. Liander and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco, is in charge of the case.

It should be noted that an arrest is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.