In a case that highlights the vulnerabilities within the boundaries of trust and legal obligation, Michael Tulchiner, a 61-year-old attorney from Bellmore, has entered a guilty plea for the charge of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree in relation to absconding with funds from a real estate transaction. As noted by the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, Tulchiner admitted to misappropriating over $400,000 that was supposed to settle a client’s loan during a property sale.
Caught in the snare of his own greed, Tulchiner, who was the main attorney at The Law Office of Michael J. Tulchiner in Melville, had surreptitiously re-deposited a $413,237 bank check meant for a mortgage company back into his personal account, according to Suffolk County District Attorney's announcement. These funds were initially placed in trust, earmarked for a specifically authorized transaction; instead, they were funneled to cover the lawyer's firm expenses and other unrelated costs.
The betrayal by Tulchiner was not just a strike against an "innocent client" but also served to erode the foundation of trust upon which the legal profession is built. District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney underscored this point in his public remarks, stating, "This betrayal not only harmed an innocent client but undermined the integrity of our legal profession," as mentioned on the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office website. Tulchiner’s actions were further dissected during the proceedings, revealing a deliberate movement of the funds on August 29, 2022, a mere three days after the issuance of the bank check.
Bringing the case to a close, Tulchiner faced the music before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins on January 27, where he was handed down a sentence that included not only full restitution of the stolen monies amounting to $499,000 but also the irrevocable surrender of his law license. Represented by Scott Gross, Esq., Tulchiner received a clear message from the justice system: legal expertise provides no sanctuary for the corrupt. The details of these events were meticulously carried out by Assistant District Attorney Tara K. O’Donnell and the Public Corruption Squad.
