Prominent NY Lawyer Is Pro Se in Trial Over Alleged Conversion of $853K Fire Insurance Check
After his Long Island, N.Y., home burned in 2008, attorney George Guldi received an $853,000 check from his insurance company.
But it was made payable both to the former Suffolk County legislator and the lender that held a $1.4 million mortgage on his home, reports the East Hampton Star.
Now, in a trial in Suffolk County Supreme Court this week, Guldi is defending himself, pro se, against charges that he committed insurance fraud by endorsing the check to himself and cashing it.
The experience could come in useful in his next case, an unrelated $82 million mortgage fraud in which Guldi has been accused of playing a role, along with two other New York lawyers, a dominatrix and her husband.
The Southampton Press attempted without success to reach Guldi for comment last week when his trial began in the insurance fraud case.
It says the alleged mortgage fraud is the largest ever in Suffolk County, involving at least 66 homes in Southampton Town. All are now in foreclosure.
In the current insurance fraud trial, which began last week, Guldi is charged with insurance fraud, grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument and forgery. If convicted, he could get at least a 5 to 15-year prison term, reports the Southampton newspaper.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “NY Lawyers & Dominatrix Accused of Running $50M Mortgage Fraud Scheme”
ABAJournal.com: “Bizarre $50M Fraud Case Will Help NY Lawyer Challenge Law Office Raid”
Newsday (sub. req.): “Guldi trial witness: I was contacted by DA”
East Hampton Patch: “Key Witness Takes Stand in Guldi Trial”
