Brooklyn lawyer Salvatore Strazzullo indicted again for allegedly stealing millions from clients

April 11, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Brooklyn lawyer Salvatore Strazzullo faces serious charges of embezzlement. He was previously charged with embezzlement in November 2023 as well.

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Brooklyn lawyer Salvatore Strazzullo faces serious charges of embezzlement, accused of pilfering nearly $3.8 million from four clients, according to District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who revealed the indictment on Wednesday.

This isn’t Strazzullo’s first brush with the law. A previous indictment in December 2023 accused him of stealing around $1.5 million from three other clients.

According to the investigation, Strazzullo’s alleged misdeeds involved real estate transactions across Brooklyn. In one instance, he purportedly failed to distribute $1.3 million from a property sale. Similar accusations surround the sales of properties in Bensonhurst, Kensington, Dyker Heights and Borough Park.

“This defendant is accused of stealing a tremendous amount of money that represents the nest eggs of his victims, senior citizens who trusted him to handle their affairs,” DA Gonzalez said. “Instead, he allegedly violated his ethical duty as an attorney, betrayed their trust and broke the law. We will now seek to hold him accountable.”

Strazzullo’s alleged embezzlement facilitated a lifestyle marked by extravagance and opulence. According to investigators, he indulged in exorbitant spending sprees, including lavish dining experiences at renowned establishments like Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Cipriani and Ponte Vecchio, amounting to a staggering $50,000.

His penchant for luxury extended to transportation, prosecutors said, with nearly $100,000 spent on a BMW and chauffeur services. Accommodations were equally extravagant, with approximately $60,000 splurged on stays at upscale hotels in international destinations like Paris and Miami, reflecting a taste for the high life.

Strazzullo also allegedly enjoyed the comforts of a $13,000-per-month apartment in Battery Park City, where he resided, spending approximately $406,000 over the course of the investigation.

His financial extravagance also included hefty American Express payments totaling around $470,000, coupled with substantial cash withdrawals amounting to approximately $970,000. These revelations paint a vivid picture of a lifestyle funded by the alleged exploitation of trust, raising questions about the extent of his extravagance and the repercussions for those he purportedly defrauded.

In 2023, Strazzullo was previously charged with embezzling nearly $1.5 million from three unsuspecting clients involved in real estate and estate proceedings. These allegations led to charges including first-degree grand larceny, second-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud.

According to that criminal complaint, victims included a 79-year-old woman who, after selling her Bensonhurst home for over $1.2 million, allegedly never received her proceeds. An 80-year-old man, upon selling his Borough Park property, was another alleged victim, facing delays and excuses regarding his expected earnings of around $170,000.

Another alleged victim, a 52-year-old woman, entrusted Strazzullo with her late husband’s estate funds, yet faced repeated delays in accessing approximately $96,000. Investigations revealed Strazzullo’s purported use of these embezzled funds to settle personal debts and expenses unrelated to his clients’ legal matters.