Lawyer sued by former firm in claimed $2.3M fake billing scheme now faces mail fraud case
A New York attorney who is also a veteran Democratic Nassau County lawmaker has been federally charged with eight counts of mail fraud.
David Denenberg pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court in Central Islip and was released on a $500,000 recognizance bond. He was sued by his former law firm in September over an alleged scheme to bill a corporate client $2.3 million for “nonexistent work on cases that had already been terminated and/or never existed.” The new charges relate to those allegations, the Associated Press and Newsday report.
Prosecutors said in court Friday that a plea deal is in the works, the Long Island Press reports. Attorney Jeffrey Gold, who represents Denenberg in the civil case filed against him by his former partners at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, says that case also is close to an agreed resolution.
Denenberg has declined to discuss the matter while it is in the courts. He said outside the federal courthouse on Friday that he appreciates the support of his family, friends and constituents “during this very difficult time since the end of September. And I apologize that we’ve all been going through all of this.”
Attorney Jason Russo is representing Denenberg in the criminal case. He says his client does not intend to give up his seat on the Nassau legislature, Newsday reports.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Law firm sues ex-partner, says he billed client for $2.3M in fictional work”
