Marat Lerner, Wire Fraud, New York 2023

In a shocking turn of events, Marat Lerner, the former president of the debt relief services business, The Lerner Group, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of committing wire fraud while on pre-trial release. Lerner admitted to lying to his victims and stealing money that they had intended to use to pay off their home mortgages.

According to court documents, Lerner’s scheme targeted the Eastern European immigrant community in Brooklyn, many of whom were already experiencing financial hardship. He promised to help them lower their monthly mortgage payments by working with their mortgage lenders to secure a mortgage loan modification or federal homeowner assistance.

But in reality, Lerner stole over $2.5 million from his victims, money that they had intended to use to pay their mortgages. He transmitted funds from their accounts to companies and/or bank accounts that he himself controlled, keeping the majority of the victims’ money for personal and business expenses, including a BMW, luxury goods, and expensive meals.

When sentenced, Lerner faces a maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment. He has also agreed to pay $2,554,217.11 in restitution, a small fraction of the millions he stole from his victims.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, praised the guilty plea, stating, “As he admitted today, Marat Lerner turned the victims’ American dreams into a nightmare by promising mortgage and debt relief, and instead preyed on their hard-earned life savings for his own personal gain.”

James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, New York Field Office (FBI), and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS CI), also announced the guilty plea, calling Lerner’s actions “a nightmare” for his victims.

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