In Matter of Leff , the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department sought an order disbarring attorney Steven Leff.
Leff, who was admitted in 1988, was suspended for a three year period back in 2000 and never reapplied for reinstatement.
In 2008, he pled guilty to embezzlement -- a felony under federal law -- in a criminal case filed with the United State District Court of the Eastern District of New York.
Leff allegedly acted as "settlement agent" for several FDIC insured banks and apparently diverted proceeds from mortgage transactions to himself and his company. (Ultimately, more than $13 million in loan proceeds are thought to have been misdirected.)
In New York, conviction of a federal felony triggers automatic disbarment when the crime is "essentially similar" to a New York State felony. Since the offense matched New York's grand larceny felony, the Appellate Division, First Department, concurred with the Committee's recommendation and let Leff go.
There's nothing Leff.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Matter of Leff