Paralegal Is Arrested at NY Law Firm, Charged with Embezzling $250K
Add another case to the annals of trusted employees accused of stealing from law firms.
Paralegal Joseph W. Abramski, 63, was arrested last week at his office at a Southampton Village, N.Y., law firm and charged with two felonies, after allegedly embezzling more than $250,000 over a three-year period, according to the Southampton Patch and the Suffolk Times.
Partner Mary Jane Asato tells the Southampton Press that no clients lost money but the small law firm of Bourke, Flanagan, & Asato took a hit. She declined to explain details of the alleged theft by the 12-year employee.
“It’s a personal betrayal, working together with people for that long … it’s overwhelming,” she told the newspaper.
At last report, Abramski was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
The articles don’t include any comment from him or his legal counsel.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com (Nov. 2011): “Ex-Employee Accused of Stealing $155K from Salt Lake City’s Richards Brandt Miller Nelson”
ABAJournal.com (June 2012): “Former Legal Assistant Gets Time for Writing Checks for Own Expenses on Law Firm Trust Account”
ABAJournal.com (Aug. 2012): “Court Clerk Charged with Stealing From Law Firm Says She Used Money for Restitution in Prior Case”
ABAJournal.com (Sept. 2012): “Former Office Manager Gets 10 Years for Embezzling More Than $500K from Suburban Chicago Law Firm”
ABAJournal.com (Sept. 2012): “Judge Calls Former Law Firm Employee’s Apology for Stealing $400K ‘Shallow,’ Gives Her 2 to 20 Years”
ABAJournal.com (Sept. 2012): “Longtime Employee Accused of Embezzling $100K from Small Firm”
