Disbarred Lawyer Who Stole $1.8M From Clients Sentenced To Prison: DA

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A disbarred lawyer who swindled at least 50 clients out of millions of dollars was sentenced to prison this week and has to repay all of the money that he stole from his victims, prosecutors announced.

After admitting in February that he stole more than $1.8 million from his clients' personal injury lawsuit settlements between 2015 and 2020, Yohan Choi, of Bayside, was sentenced to one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison Wednesday.

Choi, who prosecutors said represented clients after getting disbarred in 2017, also has to repay the $1.8 million-plus that he stole from his victims, according to prosecutors.

"This defendant took an oath to uphold the law. Unfortunately, he let his own interest guide him instead of his fiduciary duty to represent his clients," said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

Citing an examination of Choi's bank accounts, prosecutors said that the disbarred lawyer failed to turn over personal injury settlement money from insurance companies to his clients in sums ranging from $1,000 to $75,000.

He pulled off this scheme with over 50 clients during the course of five years, amounting to more than $1.8 million in stolen settlement money, according to the DA.

"This disbarred lawyer pocketed more than $1.8 million that should have been distributed to the victims, who had already suffered and were due a settlement for a personal injury claim," said Katz.

Choi, who first faced charges in December, pleaded guilty to theft charges in February, records show.

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