Defendant Also Charged With Perjury for False Claims in Civil Lawsuit Related to the Theft
 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, today announced the indictment of ARTHUR COHEN, 71, a licensed attorney, for stealing approximately $1.2 million from his former law firm, underreporting his income over five years, and falsifying business records and legal claims in an attempt to cover his thefts. The defendant is charged in a 35-count New York State Supreme Court indictment with various counts of Grand Larceny, Criminal Tax Fraud, Offering a False Instrument for Filing, and Perjury. ^[1]
 
“As alleged, Arthur Cohen exploited his position as a senior equity partner and treasurer to turn his law firm into a personal gold mine at the expense of his partners and co-workers,” said District Attorney Bragg. “The defendant embezzled a total of $1.2 million and then attempted to cover it up with falsified business records and legal claims, brazenly disregarding his professional obligation to act with honesty and uphold principles of fairness. This alleged conduct is not only criminal –  it diminishes the integrity of the legal profession and trust in officers of the court.”
 
According to the indictment and statements made on the record, between January 2014 and February 2020, COHEN served as a senior equity partner and treasurer of the now-defunct Manhattan law firm of Gordon and Silber, P.C. From at least January 2014 until his suspension, COHEN used his position as treasurer to systematically steal funds from the firm. The defendant secretly directed the firm to pay his and his family’s credit cards, charged significant personal expenses to company cards, submitted fraudulent expense reports for fictitious expenses, and overpaid himself in 2019. The defendant hid his thefts, which exceeded $1.2 million, with fabricated accounting entries and numerous fraudulent expense reports.

COHEN used the stolen funds to purchase, in part, a $40,000 diamond-encrusted Cartier watch, a $57,000 diamond ring, and to service luxury automobiles. The defendant also used over $100,000 of stolen money to pay for his son’s American Express card and used law firm credit cards and funds to cover other family-related expenses, including multiple stays in luxury hotels.
 
In February 2020, COHEN was suspended by his firm after an analysis of bank and credit card records uncovered his thefts. Following his suspension, the law firm asked the defendant to repay some or all of the monies stolen. Instead of repaying the stolen funds, COHEN filed a lawsuit against his former partners and law firm in New York County Supreme Court, including two documents containing false information.

COHEN’s former partners then responded to his civil lawsuit with counterclaims alleging that he had stolen from the firm. Subsequently, the defendant allegedly committed perjury in a verified answer, falsely denying he had stolen from the firm.

Assistant D.A.s Michael Frantel, Solomon Shinerock, and Katherine Ellis are handling the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Julio Cuevas, Jr. (Deputy Bureau Chief of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau), Assistant D.A. Julieta V. Lozano (Chief of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau), and Executive Assistant D.A. Susan Hoffinger (Chief of the Investigation Division).
 
Paralegal Anna Brucker, Investigative Analyst Anna Jurew, Senior Rackets Investigator Anthony Santoro, and Forensic Accountant Investigator Francine Wexler, under the supervision of Irene Serrapica (Principal Deputy Bureau Chief of Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations) and Robert Demarest (Chief of Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations), also assisted with the investigation.
 
D.A. Bragg thanked the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, particularly Criminal Tax Auditor II Huiqing Cheu and Attorney Daniel Lewis.

Defendant Information:
 
ARTHUR COHEN
Briar Cliff Manor, NY
 
Charged:

• Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, three counts
• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a class D felony, three counts
• Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, two counts
• Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, five counts
• Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, 17 counts
• Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, two counts
• Perjury in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count