Feds charge former BigLaw attorney with aiding client's fraudulent attempt to get money to buy Maxim
A former BigLaw attorney was arrested Wednesday for allegedly helping a client impersonate his wealthy father, in a fraudulent attempt to get financing to purchase the men’s magazine Maxim.
Attorney Harvey Newkirk, 39, was charged with aggravated identity theft, conspiracy and wire fraud in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, reports Reuters. He formerly worked at Bryan Cave in New York.
The client, Calvin Darden Jr., 40, pleaded guilty in November to wire fraud. He is the son of a former vice president of United Parcel Service Inc.
Prosecutors have said Darden impersonated his father, in an effort to raise funds to buy Maxim, and the complaint filed Wednesday says both men made misrepresentations to lenders.
Attorney Priya Chaudhry represents Newkirk. In an email to Reuters, he said his client did nothing wrong. “We look forward to challenging the government’s overreaching and baseless allegations,” he wrote.
Bryan Cave told Reuters the law firm has been cooperating with the federal investigation.
