Garden City Atty. Swindled $700K In Real Estate Deals: Nassau DA

MINEOLA, NY — An attorney from Garden City has been charged with grand larceny for stealing more than $700,000 for two victims through real estate transactions, prosecutors announced.

Daniel Boldi, 49, was arraigned on Wednesday on second-degree grand larceny. He was ordered to surrender his passport and was released on his own recognizance, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

"This defendant allegedly deceived victims he worked with during real estate transactions. He’s alleged to have stolen proceeds of their property sales and money earmarked to pay off a mortgage," Donnelly said. "Incredibly, one couple continues to pay the mortgage for a home they no longer own because of this defendant’s alleged embezzlement."

Boldi's lawyer Michael Franzese told Patch, "My client has every intention of paying back all the money that is proven to be wrongfully withheld."

According to the charges, Boldi, who owned and operated his own law firm, Boldi Law Group, P.C., worked with a couple on the closing sale of their East Meadow home in October.

He acted as settlement agent/bank attorney for the mortgage broker, Donnelly said.

Boldi was to distribute $309,367 to the couple's mortgage lender to pay off the remainder of their mortgage. However, he falsely told the couple that the wire transfer from the buyer's lender hadn't posted to his escrow account, the D.A.'s office said.

Days later, according to Donnelly, Boldi provided the couple with a fraudulently copy of what he claimed was the wire transfer for the mortgage payoff, allowing the deed to be released and the sale completed. The wire transfer, though, was never performed, Donnelly said.

In November, Boldi represented a buyer for the purchase of a Valley Stream property. Three days later, he provided the victim/seller with a check for $379,493, which bounced. Thereafter, Donnelly said, the title and broker commission checks that were drafted by Boldi also bounced.

Donnelly said their investigation into Boldi is ongoing.

"NCDA has received multiple complaints from other individuals who have reported being victimized by Boldi."

She said anyone who believes they were victimized by Boldi and has not yet filed a complaint, should call her office's Criminal Complaint Unit at 516-571-3505.

If convicted, Boldi faces a maximum of up to five to 15 years in prison. He is due back in court on April 25.