Joseph Levine, 59, Hewlett, New York, a recently disbarred attorney has been arrested and charged with stealing more than $300,000 from two clients he was hired to represent in legal matters during the past year. Levine faces felony counts of Grand Larceny in the Second and Third Degrees, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree.

In May 2007, an Elmont, New York woman was in the process of buying a home when her real estate agent recommended several attorneys that would be able to draw up the contract of sale. The woman selected Joseph Levine and eventually gave the defendant a $10,000.00 down payment on a home. The sale fell through the beginning of June 2007 and the woman requested the return of the money. The defendant suggested that he should hold on to the funds, in the hopes that he could resurrect the real estate deal. The client continued contact with Levine throughout the summer. As of November 8, 2007, she has not received a refund. The District Attorney’s Office received the complaint on September 12, 2007.

Levine filed an affidavit of resignation with the New York State Bar on April 6, 2007. He was disbarred on June 26, 2007.

The defendant was arrested by District Attorney Investigators Thursday morning. He will be arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead. Levine faces a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Vickie Curran, of the DA’s Government & Consumer Frauds Bureau, is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Levine is being represented by Robert Vella, Esq., of Mineola.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

"Lawyers are hired into positions of trust, often during a difficult time of someone’s life," said Rice. "The betrayal of that trust is something my administration takes very seriously and will continue to investigate and prosecute aggressively."