A Long Island man has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly posing as a lawyer and taking more than $15,000 from a woman in Corona for immigration-related services.
As per the Queens District Attorney's Office release, the defendant, Leonardo Ferretti, also known as Leonardo Valentino Ferretti DiSanttorelli, allegedly met the victim through an online dating app in December 2022. Prosecutors say he claimed to be a law school graduate and provided false information about his education and legal credentials to gain the victim’s trust.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, Ferretti represented himself as a “Juris Doctor Candidate, Class of 2022” from Columbia Law School and shared a business card with that claim. An investigation later determined that he was never enrolled at Columbia Law School, was not admitted to the bar, and did not file any immigration applications on behalf of the victim.
Prosecutors allege the woman made multiple payments totaling $15,300 between June 2023 and December 2023 through Zelle, including a payment from her brother. By May 2024, Ferretti allegedly stopped communicating with the victim.
Ferretti, 50, is charged with third-degree grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized practice of law, and immigrant assistance services fraud. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence ranging from 2⅓ to seven years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by the Queens District Attorney’s Office. Ferretti is scheduled to return to Queens Criminal Court on February 25.
