Brooklyn state senator charged with embezzlement, other federal offenses
An indictment was unsealed Monday in federal court in Brooklyn charging state Senator John Sampson (D-Southeast Brooklyn) with two counts of embezzlement, five counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As charged in the indictment, Sampson is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of New York, and his law practice has included legal work involving the sale of foreclosed properties. Beginning in the late 1990s, Sampson served as a court-appointed referee for foreclosure proceedings conducted by the Kings County Supreme Court.
As referee, Sampson controlled escrow accounts holding proceeds of foreclosure sales of Brooklyn properties. It is alleged that between 1998 and 2008, Sampson embezzled approximately $440,000 in surplus funds from the foreclosure sales of four Brooklyn properties. The prior owners of the Brooklyn properties, and other parties with a lawful interest, had a right to receive the funds allegedly embezzled by Sampson.