A Suffolk County attorney finds himself on the wrong side of the law after being charged with swiping a substantial sum from a client's real estate transaction. Peter Giattino, 43, of Wading River, is facing charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree for allegedly pilfering funds meant to purchase a home. In a statement obtained by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney highlighted the gravity of the betrayal, noting, "The integrity of the attorney-client relationship is fundamental to our society, and this office will not allow licensed professionals to abuse their positions for personal gain."
The incident initially surfaced when Giattino, the lead attorney at PVG Legal Solutions PLLC, quickly agreed to represent a victim in the purchase of a Southampton home in early June of last year. After the funds were wired to the attorney, Giattino allegedly began to sporadically make withdrawals through bank checks, ATMs, and cash transactions. Between June and October, he's accused of pocketing $751,687 from his client. According to the investigation, some of the money was spent at casinos both local and out-of-state. As the real estate closing got unnecessarily canceled, the victim sought new legal representation and repeatedly asked for the return of the funds, only to discover that the money had been spent.
Giattino was arraigned yesterday, where he faced Justice Lori M. Hulse in Riverhead Town Court. Despite the weight of the charges, he was released without bail; under current New York State law, the crime is not bail eligible. He has secured Bob Macedonio, Esq. for defense, with a scheduled court return on April 8. Authorities are encouraging anyone with similar claims against Giattino to come forward and contact the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office at (631) 853-4626. Katharine R. D’Aquila of the Public Corruption Bureau prosecutes the case with the aid of the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad.
