BestLawyerTips | News – A disbarred lawyer from Forest Hills, New York, received a 6 1/2 year jail term for his involvement in a $30 million vehicle insurance scam and a $18.8 million Ponzi scheme.
Following his conviction last year, 45-year-old Robert Wisnicki was sentenced on Thursday. Prosecutors claim that for years, investors handed Wisnicki money to invest in real estate chances; however, rather than informing them of their losses, Wisnicki repaid them with monies from non-investor clients.
In September, Wisnicki entered a guilty plea to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to conduct wire fraud.
Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, said in a statement that Wisnicki “showed his flagrant disregard for the law” with his elaborate plans.
An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by Wisnicki’s attorneys.
Wisnicki was also given a three-year probationary term by U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe. In addition, he consented to forfeit almost $19 million and make reparations totaling $18.8 million.
Attorneys said, opens new tab In addition, Wisnicki participated in a plot to launder money for a company that used the no-fault vehicle insurance policies in New Jersey and New York.
Auto insurance companies are required by law in New York and New Jersey to settle certain claims, frequently straight to medical providers, without placing blame on anybody. The Gulkarov organization is a group of persons who are accused of taking advantage of victims of auto accidents by forcing them to undergo unpleasant and needless medical treatments.
Prosecutors said that the Gulkarov organization subsequently deceitfully overcharged the insurance firms, laundering the funds through Wisnicki’s legal practice and other businesses. Prosecutors claimed that despite having no attorney-client relationship with the group, Wisnicki received the money.
According to federal court documents, more scheme participants have entered guilty pleas.
USA v. Alexander Gulkarov, et al. is the case number; it is 1:22-cr-00020 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Sources: Reuters