In the Matter of Edward R. Adams, an Attorney, Respondent. Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department, Petitioner.
First Department
December 31, 2013
977 N.Y.S.2d 248
Jorge Dopico, Chief Counsel, Departmental Disciplinary Committee, New York City (Kevin P. Culley of counsel), for petitioner.
Windels Marx Lane Mittendorf, LLP (Charles E. Simpson of counsel), for respondent.
OPINION OF THE COURT
Per Curiam.
Respondent Edward R. Adams was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York by the Second Judicial Department on November 14, 1979. At all times relevant to this proceeding, respondent maintained a law office within the First Judicial Department.
The Departmental Disciplinary Committee moves for an order striking respondent‘s name from the roll of attorneys, pursuant to
A conviction of a federal felony only triggers automatic disbarment if the offense would constitute a felony under the New York Penal Law (
During his federal plea allocution, respondent admitted to conduct that would constitute the New York felony of scheme to defraud in the first degree, an E felony requiring proof that the defendant
“engage[d] in a scheme constituting a systematic ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud more than one person or to obtain property from more than one person by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, and so obtains property with a value in excess of one thousand dollars from one or more such persons” (
Penal Law § 190.65 [1] [b] ).
Specifically, respondent admitted that he and a co-conspirator negotiated with a real estate investment company to solicit investors for a condominium project purportedly in development. Respondent served as the escrow agent for the investor funds accounts, which contained over $4.7 million, and released these funds to the co-conspirator although he knew that neither the investors nor the escrow agreement had allowed him to do so. He further admitted to concealing the improper fund withdrawals by withholding a requested accounting of the escrow funds from investors and by making false and misleading statements in emails. No work has been performed on the purported real estate project and no money has been returned to the investors.
Respondent‘s admitted conduct satisfies the elements of the New York felony of scheme to defraud in the first degree and, therefore, his plea triggered automatic disbarment under
Accordingly, the Committee‘s motion should be granted and respondent‘s name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law pursuant to
ANDRIAS, J.P., FRIEDMAN, RENWICK, FREEDMAN and FEINMAN, JJ., concur.
Respondent disbarred, and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York, nunc pro tunc to June 10, 2013.