Disbarred lawyer pleads guilty to using another lawyer's identity to practice law
A disbarred lawyer has pleaded guilty to practicing law using the stolen identity of a lawyer with a similar name.
Steven Dickman, 69, pleaded guilty on Monday in Brooklyn federal court, the New York Daily News reports. He collected fees from about 50 “clients.”
Dickman admitted that he practiced law since 2009 using the identity of lawyer Stephen Dickerman, who did not renew his attorney registration despite repeated notices in 2008 and 2009.
According to a search warrant affidavit filed earlier this year, a man claiming to be Dickerman showed up at the attorney registration office in 2009 and received a copy of the delinquent notice form, which included Dickerman’s Social Security number, date of birth, the law school he attended and his attorney registration number. The man paid the registration fee and listed a new business and home address.
Dickman was disbarred in 1987 for using money in client escrow accounts, the New York Daily News says. He faces a possible sentence of 41 to 51 months.
