Manhattan prosecutors have accused a disbarred attorney of swindling clients, including an elderly woman and a young girl, out of more than $450,000 in settlement funds.
Joel Getreu, 56, was arraigned Friday on an indictment charging him with first-degree scheme to defraud, as well as second degree and third degree grand larceny. He entered a not guilty plea and Acting Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Laura Ward set bail at $200,000. Getreu, a personal injury attorney, faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in the case. The Appellate Division, First Department disbarred Getreu in August. In a resignation during the disciplinary matter, he admitted using funds in his IOLA account for his own purposes (NYLJ, Aug. 18, 2014).
