Former attorney gets prison for twice stealing client’s money
Stole Close to $500,000 from Clients; Represents Self in Sentencing Hearing
A Brooklyn federal judge has sentenced an ex-lawyer to nearly a decade behind bars for stealing real estate escrow money from clients in numerous Brooklyn property sales. The defendant has been identified as Stephen Mitchell of South Orange, N.J.
Mitchell was sentenced last Friday to two to six years in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice William Garnett following his conviction earlier this year on one count of second-degree grand larceny following a jury trial. The judge ordered the sentence to run consecutive to a sentence he handed down last year in a similar case for a total sentence of six to 18 years.
In 2006, Mitchell was hired by the property manager for the estate of Jacques Montrevil to remove the estate’s administrator and to complete the sale of property located at 3215 Church Ave. In November 2006, an amended contract of sale for that property was executed between representatives of the estate and Stephen Falcone, the prospective purchaser. Mitchell was present at the signing of the contract and accepted the $70,000 down payment from the buyer, made payable to himself.