Disbarment Without A Hearing

The New York Appellate Division for the First Judicial Department disbarred an attorney convicted in federal court of various wire fraud and money laundering offenses. Disbarment was automatic notwithstanding the fact that there is no equivalent state offense. A review of the plea admissions and the charging document (which the court may consider in determining the issue of similarity) persuaded the court that the crime was “essentially similar” to the New York offense of fraud in the first degree and that summary disbarment was appropriate.

In a second matter, the court used the same analysis to disbar another attorney convicted in federal court of offenses that equated to the crime of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. (Mike Frisch)