Man Steals Lawyer’s Identity, Starts Fraudulent Firm

The FBI has arrested a man who had claimed he was a lawyer whose attorney registration had in fact lapsed and was given the real attorney’s personal information. He then went on to establish a law firm and see clients under the assumed identity. The man claimed to be New York lawyer Stephen G. Dickerman, paid the $350 petition fee and filed a petition to practice before the federal court in Brooklyn. The registration office declined his request to adopt his Hebrew name “Shlomo” but issued the license. FBI filings show the man had appeared in court, posing as practicing lawyer Shlomo Dickerman, in at least eight cases. According to the New York Daily News, he offered to represent two undercover FBI agents, at $400 per hour and with a $5,000 retainer.