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Brian Schmidt, age 49, of Warwick, was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny in connection to the alleged theft, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday, Feb. 21.
Prosecutors said Schmidt represented a home seller in a real estate closing between August and November 2022 but unlawfully kept more than $50,000 from the transaction.
Schmidt surrendered to law enforcement and was arraigned Tuesday night, Feb. 18 before Judge Gary Raniolo in Yorktown Justice Court. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.
In June 2024, Schmidt was disbarred for this incident and other alleged misconduct, according to court records.
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace condemned Schmidt’s actions in a statement on Friday.
"Members of the bar are entrusted with a great deal of responsibility on behalf of the people they represent. Brian Schmidt is accused of abusing that trust to enrich himself at the expense of his client," Cacace said.
If convicted, Schmidt faces a sentence of five to 15 years in state prison.
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