Lawyer admits role in 'judicial subpoena' for witness questionnaires, pleads guilty to misdemeanor
Corrected: A New York City lawyer has admitted a role in helping to create an apparent court subpoena compelling witnesses in a client’s mortgage-fraud case to fill out a questionnaire. The subpoena was intended to discredit earlier sworn testimony by witnesses by pressuring them to complete the questionnaire, prosecutors said.
Jon Lefkowitz avoided a possible conviction on felony charges by pleading guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor criminal facilitation, reports the Syracuse Post-Standard. Lefkowitz admitted helping create documents that appeared to be judicial subpoenas—ostensibly from a state supreme court justice.
The state attorney general’s office prosecuted the Onondaga County case, which originally involved accusations that Lefkowitz had conspired with his client, Alexander March, to try to defuse evidence in the mortgage-fraud case after March fled to Canada. The newspaper refers to March as a “notorious Syracuse slumlord.” Both Lefkowitz and March were initially charged with conspiracy, forgery, witness-tampering and criminal impersonation, an earlier Post-Standard story reported.
The newspaper reports that Lefkowitz also was initially accused, along with March, of impersonating others, including lawyers. The attorney was not accused of playing any role in his client’s flight, however.
Sentencing is scheduled for August. Lefkowitz appears unlikely to get any prison time if he complies with an agreement to cooperate with prosecutors, the newspaper reports.
A news release last year by AG Eric Schneiderman’s office provides additional details.
At last report, March remained in Canada. The AG’s office is seeking extradition.
Corrected on May 12 to include information from corrected Syracuse Post-Standard story.
