New York City – A Brooklyn attorney has been arrested and charged with embezzling a large sum of money from his elderly clients. The suspect, identified as Strazzullo, is accused of betraying the trust of senior citizens who relied on him to manage their finances. Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez stated that Strazzullo’s alleged actions violated his ethical duty as a lawyer and demonstrated a complete disregard for the law. The authorities are determined to hold him accountable for his alleged crimes.
According to investigators, Strazzullo’s embezzlement scheme allowed him to lead a lavish lifestyle filled with extravagance. He purportedly indulged in luxurious dining experiences at renowned establishments like Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Cipriani, and Ponte Vecchio, resulting in extravagant spending exceeding $50,000. Transportation was another area where he splurged, with almost $100,000 spent on a BMW and chauffeur services. Additionally, he spent approximately $60,000 on high-end hotels in international destinations such as Paris and Miami, showing a taste for the finer things in life.
Housing was another aspect of Strazzullo’s opulent lifestyle, as he allegedly rented a luxury apartment in Battery Park City for $13,000 per month. Over the course of the investigation, he spent a total of around $406,000 on this accommodation. Moreover, he made hefty payments to American Express, totaling approximately $470,000, and withdrew nearly $1 million in cash. These revelations paint a vivid picture of how he funded his extravagant lifestyle by exploiting the trust of his clients.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that Strazzullo has faced charges related to embezzlement. In 2023, he was accused of embezzling nearly $1.5 million from three clients involved in real estate and estate proceedings. The charges included first-degree grand larceny, second-degree grand larceny, and first-degree scheme to defraud. Among his victims were a 79-year-old woman who allegedly never received over $1.2 million from the sale of her Bensonhurst home, an 80-year-old man who faced delays and excuses after selling his Borough Park property, and a 52-year-old woman who entrusted him with her late husband’s estate funds and experienced repeated delays in accessing approximately $96,000.
As the investigation unfolds, it raises questions about the extent of Strazzullo’s lavish lifestyle and the impact it had on those he purportedly defrauded. The authorities are determined to bring justice to the victims and ensure that Strazzullo faces the consequences of his actions.
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