Lawyer stole from cemetery so he could repay $1M he had stolen from clients, investigators say
A suburban New York City real estate lawyer has allegedly been living large for years on funds he misappropriated from clients.
Charged earlier this year with stealing $1.9 million from a Staten Island cemetery while serving as its president, Timothy Griffin, 54, is now facing a new larceny case in Westchester County, where he is accused of stealing another $1 million from client escrow funds, according to the Journal News.
The thefts allegedly occurred between 2009 and 2014. Investigators at the state attorney general’s office, which is prosecuting the latest case in New Rochelle, believe Griffin stole from the cemetery to help repay money he took earlier from Westchester clients, the Associated Press reports.
Arrested Thursday, Griffin was then released without bail. He is accused of spending stolen money on a country club membership, luxury vehicles and personal items including jewelry.
A woman who answered the phone at his law office declined to comment.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Outside counsel, in charge of cemetery after bookkeeper’s theft, is charged with taking almost $2M”
