47°
Huntington resident Sean O’Leary, age 64, was arraigned Wednesday, April 19, on grand larceny charges, the Nassau County District Attorney announced.
O’Leary, who practiced in Lake Success at his company, Sean O’Leary & Associates, PLLC, was contacted by his victim in May 2018.
The victim had been injured in a car accident and hired O’Leary to represent her in a personal injury claim.
The charges allege that when O’Leary negotiated a $90,000 settlement with the other driver’s insurance company, O’Leary told the victim to sign a release granting him the check.
As part of their agreement, the DA claimed, O’Leary was to keep one-third, or $30,000 of the settlement as a legal fee, and the rest would go to the victim.
However, the investigation shows that the victim saw none of the $60,000 she won in her case, despite her multiple requests that O’Leary forward the payment to her.
Instead, the DA alleges, O’Leary withdrew the victim’s funds with wire transfers and checks made out to himself.
“Navigating the difficult process of making an injury-related claim is eased for many by hiring a personal injury attorney,” said DA Anne T. Donnelly in a statement.
“Clients should never have to worry that the attorney they hire may violate their trust and deceive them.”
He was disbarred in April 2022.
If convicted of the grand larceny charge he faces, O’Leary could spend up to five to 15 years in prison.
He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on Wednesday, April 26.
The DA is asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of O’Leary to contact its Criminal Complaint Bureau by calling 516-571-3505.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Nassau and receive free news updates.
