A so-called “lottery lawyer” who represented some of America’s biggest jackpot winners has been convicted of humbug and money laundering. group A federal panel in Brooklyn Tues set that Jason “Jay” Kurland played fasting and slack with his clients’ money, collectively bilking them come out of out of $107 million.
Kurland positioned himself as the number-one drawing attorney in the nation, advising the of a sudden super-rich on how to protect themselves, their anonymity, and their money. He even out owned the url lotterylawyer.com.
He counted among his clients the America’s all-time biggest drawing winner. The anon. single from South Carolina who scooped $1.5 billion on the Mega Millions pull inwards 2018 was also 1 of his victims.
Kurland had a sideline, a merchant cash in go on business, Cheddar Capital. He convinced clients to put inwards the company without declaring his ownership, before funneling some of this money backwards to himself inwards the var. of “finder’s fees.”
Partners inward Cheddar
Partners inwards Cheddar Washington included Frankie Russo, boy of the belatedly Colombo criminal offense house capo Chief Joseph “JoJo” Russo, and a former securities broker named Frank Smookler.
In 2018, the triplet believed they had stumbled on a foolproof moneymaking opportunity. a Long Island jeweler, Greg Altieri, told them he could purchase pieces at “clearout” prices and flip them for a 30% to 70% profit, but he needed capital. Kurland new a few people who had plentifulness of that and convinced his clients to place around $80 million.
When Altieri was arrested past the FBI inward 2020 for running a massive Ponzi scheme, the Cheddar Washington trio were panicked into chasing their losses. At the height of the pandemic, they plowed money into a shady sell to furnish PPE equipment to the province of California.
Kurland convinced the anonymous winner in South Carolina to place $19.5 million in the venture. When he was told the strategy needful twice that much, he simply helped himself to the take a breather from his client’s bank account, which he controled.
It turned come out the PPE stage business was operated past reputed Genovese law-breaking home soldier St. Christopher Chierchio, and Kurland ne'er saw a proceeds on the investment.
‘Victim’ Claim Didn’t Stand Up
Kurland was the only if i of Russo, Smookler, and Chierchio to plead not shamed in the case. His lawyer argued he was a dupe of the other three.
But the jury disagreed, unanimously.
He used his billet as a lawyer—a professing founded on duties of silver dollar and loyalty—to direct his clients to put millions of dollars inward companies that he in secret owned and took illegal kickbacks based on his clients’ investments without their knowledge,” US Attorney Damian Hiram King Williams said inwards an prescribed statement.
“Ultimately, the suspect and his co-conspirators seamed their own pockets while his clients suffered monolithic losses from their crimes,” Williams said.
Kurland faces upwards to 20 years inward prison house when sentenced.