A lawyer who made a career out of filing fraudulent lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act has pleaded guilty to mail fraud.
Stuart Finkelstein, 67, of Davie, Florida, was charged with one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Finkelstein’s scheme involved filing over 300 lawsuits on behalf of purported plaintiffs, including Victim-1 and Victim-2, in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Florida, the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of New York.
The lawsuits, which were filed against various public establishments, made representations that Victim-1 and Victim-2 were represented by Finkelstein or an associate. However, in reality, Finkelstein stole the identities of Victim-1 and Victim-2 and made numerous false representations to the courts and public establishments.
Finkelstein’s scheme was uncovered after an investigation by Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud and is set to be sentenced.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Rushmi Bhaskaran is in charge of the prosecution.
Finkelstein’s scheme allowed him to collect approximately $900,000 in attorney’s fees, which he obtained through the settlement of the fake lawsuits.
The case against Finkelstein serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the integrity of our legal system and holding accountable those who seek to exploit it for personal gain.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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