Attorney Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Filing Fraudulent Lawsuits Under The Americans With Disabilities Act
Attorney Stuart Finkelstein was sentenced to four years in prison for filing nearly 300 fraudulent ADA lawsuits using stolen identities of unaware individuals, causing over $1.5 million in losses and profiting $650,000, after pleading guilty to mail fraud.
Attorney Stuart Finkelstein pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud for filing nearly 300 fraudulent lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act over six years, falsely claiming that two individuals—Victim-1 and Victim-2—had authorized the suits when they had no knowledge of them. His scheme caused more than $1.5 million in losses to businesses and netted him approximately $650,000 in illicit gains, while also involving perjury and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to four years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $200,000 fine, and ordered to forfeit $643,102.60, with restitution to be determined by the court.
Attorney Stuart Finkelstein, a 68-year-old Florida-based lawyer, was sentenced to four years in prison by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe for orchestrating a six-year fraud scheme involving nearly 300 fraudulent lawsuits filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He falsely claimed that two individuals, referred to as Victim-1 and Victim-2, had authorized the lawsuits and had standing to sue, when in reality they were completely unaware their identities had been used. These lawsuits, filed in Florida and New York, targeted places of public accommodation and caused over $1.5 million in losses, while Finkelstein personally pocketed nearly $650,000 in settlements. In addition to identity theft and mail fraud, he made false statements under oath and actively obstructed judicial proceedings to conceal his scheme. Finkelstein pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, fined $200,000, and ordered to forfeit $643,102.60, with full restitution to be decided within 90 days. The case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rushmi Bhaskaran. This prosecution underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding legal professionals accountable for weaponizing civil rights laws for personal gain.
Extracted insights
- $1.50M $1,500,000 $1M–$10M
- $650K $650,000 $100K–$1M
- $643K $643,102 $100K–$1M
- $200K $200,000 $100K–$1M
- scheme_term one count of mail fraud
- person rushmi bhaskaran
- person stuart finkelstein
- Stuart Finkelstein was sentenced to four years in prison
- Stuart Finkelstein pled guilty to one count of mail fraud
- Stuart Finkelstein filed nearly 300 fraudulent lawsuits
- Stuart Finkelstein caused losses to places of public accommodation in excess of $1,500,000
- Stuart Finkelstein netted nearly $650,000
- Stuart Finkelstein was fined $200,000
- Stuart Finkelstein was ordered to forfeit $643,102.60
- Stuart Finkelstein was sentenced to three years of supervised release
- Rushmi Bhaskaran is in charge of the prosecution
Press Release Attorney Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Filing Fraudulent Lawsuits Under The Americans With Disabilities Act Thursday, August 3, 2023 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that attorney STUART FINKELSTEIN was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to four years in prison in connection with filing hundreds of fraudulent lawsuits pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). FINKELSTEIN previously pled guilty to one count of mail fraud. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Stuart Finkelstein, a practicing attorney, filed hundreds of fraudulent lawsuits in which he brought false claims of violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is meant to protect vulnerable members of our community against discrimination. Finkelstein has now been held accountable and is facing prison time for his brazen scheme.” According to the Indictment and statements made in court filings: Over the course of six years, FINKELSTEIN filed or caused to be filed nearly 300 fraudulent lawsuits under the ADA. These lawsuits, which were filed in Florida and New York, falsely claimed that the purported plaintiffs (“Victim-1” and “Victim-2”) had authorized the lawsuits and had standing to sue. In reality, Victim-1 and Victim-2 had no idea that FINKELSTEIN had filed lawsuits on their behalf. As a result of FINKELSTEIN’s false representations, FINKELSTEIN caused losses to the places of public accommodation that he sued in excess of $1,500,000 and netted nearly $650,000 for himself. In addition to stealing identities and using the ADA as a vehicle for fraud, FINKELSTEIN made false statements to the courts under oath and sought to obstruct proceedings that could have exposed his scheme. * * * In addition to his prison term, FINKELSTEIN, 68, of Davie, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, fined $200,000, and ordered to forfeit $643,102.60. Restitution will be decided by the Court within 90 days of today’s sentencing. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rushmi Bhaskaran is in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated August 3, 2023 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 23-278
Press Release Attorney Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Filing Fraudulent Lawsuits Under The Americans With Disabilities Act Thursday, August 3, 2023 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that attorney STUART FINKELSTEIN was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to four years in prison in connection with filing hundreds of fraudulent lawsuits pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). FINKELSTEIN previously pled guilty to one count of mail fraud. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Stuart Finkelstein, a practicing attorney, filed hundreds of fraudulent lawsuits in which he brought false claims of violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is meant to protect vulnerable members of our community against discrimination. Finkelstein has now been held accountable and is facing prison time for his brazen scheme.” According to the Indictment and statements made in court filings: Over the course of six years, FINKELSTEIN filed or caused to be filed nearly 300 fraudulent lawsuits under the ADA. These lawsuits, which were filed in Florida and New York, falsely claimed that the purported plaintiffs (“Victim-1” and “Victim-2”) had authorized the lawsuits and had standing to sue. In reality, Victim-1 and Victim-2 had no idea that FINKELSTEIN had filed lawsuits on their behalf. As a result of FINKELSTEIN’s false representations, FINKELSTEIN caused losses to the places of public accommodation that he sued in excess of $1,500,000 and netted nearly $650,000 for himself. In addition to stealing identities and using the ADA as a vehicle for fraud, FINKELSTEIN made false statements to the courts under oath and sought to obstruct proceedings that could have exposed his scheme. * * * In addition to his prison term, FINKELSTEIN, 68, of Davie, Florida, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, fined $200,000, and ordered to forfeit $643,102.60. Restitution will be decided by the Court within 90 days of today’s sentencing. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rushmi Bhaskaran is in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated August 3, 2023 Topic Financial Fraud Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 23-278