“Not The Greatest Mentor”

The New York Appellate Division for the Third Judicial Department has imposed a suspension of 18 months and until further order

The respondent admitted that between August 17, 2017, and September 11, 2017, he knowingly and with intent to defraud, assumed the identity of Olga Chagin, a resident of Suffolk County, by using her personal identification information—her name, date of birth, and social security number—to apply for and receive credit cards from American Express and Capital One, and then used credit in Chagin’s name to make purchases for his own benefit without her knowledge or authorization. During the course of this conduct, the respondent stole a total of $21,513.18, part of which belonged to Chagin and part of which belonged to American Express and Capital One. The respondent agreed to pay restitution in the sum of $21,513.18 to Chagin, American Express, and Capital One. On July 24, 2020, the respondent pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, in violation of New York Penal Law § 240.20, a violation, in full satisfaction of the criminal charges filed against him.

There were also a number of allegations related to handling funds

The respondent testified at the hearing that the misconduct alleged against him dated back to 2016 and 2017, when he was a newly admitted attorney. While working at Frank & Associates, he was mentored by Frank, whom the respondent described as “not the greatest mentor.” Frank was disbarred by opinion and order of this Court dated August 21, 2019 (see Matter of Frank, 176 AD3d 64). According to the respondent, he was friends with Totino and Figueroa and acted with their consent, and he repaid Chagin, who is his ex-fiancé. At the time of the charges herein, the respondent testified that he was under the influence and control of a compulsive gambling addiction, for which he was not being treated. Since 2018, the respondent has sought treatment for his gambling addiction and has successfully abstained from gambling and controlled his addiction. He presently attends Gamblers’ Anonymous meetings and sees a licensed social worker with the New York Council on Problem Gambling, who testified at the hearing that the respondent had learned to control his gambling addiction and maintained abstinence on gambling.