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Disbarred Lawyer Again Faces Charges of Possessing Forged Signature of Judge
New York Law Journal
November 04, 2009
A disbarred Long Island lawyer has been charged with possessing the forged signature of a Queens judge on a faked court order as part of an attempt to keep $35,000 of a client's funds.
Bryan J. Holzberg, 53, of Port Washington, N.Y., was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Friday on one count of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument -- marking at least the third time he has faced such charges. Holzberg was sentenced to probation and disbarred after pleading guilty to possessing a forged instrument in Suffolk County in 2008. In August, Nassau prosecutors also charged Holzberg with giving a client a fabricated court order.
Last week, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown initiated a third case. According to the new charges, Holzberg's clients gave him $35,000 to hold in escrow in connection with a real estate transaction. When the transaction did not go forward, the clients repeatedly asked for their funds back.
Instead, Holzberg presented them with a copy of a purported Order to Show Cause signed and stamped by Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles J. Markey, which denied the requested order to release the money. Markey told detectives he did not create or sign the order, nor authorize anyone else to do so.
Holzberg was released on bail. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1.
