A disbarred attorney was sentenced Thursday to one to three years in prison for stealing from his elderly clients in real estate transactions.
Paul Frieary, 71, of Shendaken, NY, who had a law office on Riverdale Avenue, allegedly failed to disperse the funds to his elderly clients when they sold their homes. He was also involved in other financial schemes involving seniors as well as non-profits.
In addition to prison time, Frieary has been ordered to pay nearly $800,000 in restitution to his victims and charities.
“The defendant preyed upon elderly clients in Riverdale,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark in a statement. “His actions amounted to elder abuse, leading to grievous financial harm and mental anguish. He has pleaded guilty and now faces the consequences, including prison time and repaying the money he stole.”
Frieary pleaded guilty on June 20, 2024, to one count of second-degree grand larceny before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Tara Collins.
The investigation revealed that between July 2014 and January 2021, Frieary took thousands of dollars in retainer fees from elderly clients to represent them in real estate closings but failed to disburse the funds owed when he received payments from buyers.
In one notable case, Frieary represented the buyers of a home owned by a couple in their 90s. While he provided the couple with approximately $329,000 from the sale, he kept over $277,000 for himself. The couple passed away after years of trying unsuccessfully to recover the remaining funds, Clark said.
Frieary was disbarred in October 2020 following an investigation by the Attorney Grievance Committee into his predatory practices.
The court imposed civil orders of restitution, with the money set to be distributed to one victim, the estates of two deceased victims, and nine charitable organizations.
This case highlights the critical need to protect elderly individuals from financial exploitation, Clark said, particularly when it comes to real estate transactions.
