Kenneth B. Carnesi, 53, attorney, Garden City, New York was charged with four counts of grand larcency in connection with allegations that the stole clients’ funds amounting to $247,102.81.
Count 1 alleges that Carnesi stole $148,562.68 from a client between August 5, 2002 and December 14, 2002. The stolen money had been held in escrow in regard to two separate real estate transactions.
Count 3 alleges that Carnesi stole $45,450 from other clients, between April 11, 2003 to September 14, 2004. The stolen funds had been held in escrow in a mortgage foreclosure action.
Counts 2 and 4 charge Carnesi with having stolen $51,090.13 and $2,000, respectively, from clients in connection with legal matters.
Carnesi was disbarred on the court’s acceptance of his resignation as an attorney on November 29, 2004. He was prosecuted federally on Money Laundering charges on which he was sentenced October 14, 2005. He is presently housed at the Queens Private Correctional Facility.
Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors.