MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest of a Lynbrook man for allegedly impersonating an attorney and stealing more than $100,000 from homeowners he represented.
Caesar Roberts, 56, was arraigned yesterday before Judge Paul Meli on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a C felony), Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree (a D felony) and Violation of Certain Sections of the Judiciary Law (an E felony). Bail was set at $100,000 cash or bond and the defendant is due back in court November 17. If convicted of the top count he faces five to 15 years in prison.
“This defendant allegedly posed as an attorney to con his innocent victims out of their hard-earned money, and then squandered six-figures on his own personal expenses,” DA Singas said. “I am grateful to Superintendent Vullo and the Department of Financial Services for bringing us this case so we can seek justice for the victims.”
Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo said, “To satisfy his own greed, this defendant allegedly put the home of a Brooklyn man at risk. Financially-struggling homeowners need genuine help; they don’t deserve to be victimized by selfish con-artists. The Department of Financial Services appreciates the opportunity to partner with District Attorney Singas to protect honest, hardworking New Yorkers.”
DA Singas said from August 2013 until August 2014, the defendant misrepresented himself as an attorney, practicing under the name of “The Law Office of Caesar Consulting & Advisory Group, Inc.” He was retained by the Brooklyn-based victims in August of 2013 to represent them regarding a foreclosure judgement, and later a mortgage modification on properties they owned. During this period, the victims allegedly paid the defendant more than $175,000 for his services, and he allegedly spent $20,000 for the foreclosure judgement and returned $30,000 to the homeowners, however more than $100,000 was not returned to the victims.
In April 2017, the homeowners wrote a letter to the defendant asking for the return of their unused funds, but the defendant failed to return the funds which were allegedly spent on travel, entertainment, automobile and living expenses.
This case was referred to the NCDA by the New York State Department of Financial Services in July of 2015 – and a joint investigation was conducted.
Chief of DA Singas’ Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau, Marshall Trager is prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by the Legal Aid Society.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
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