Earlier today, Marat Lerner, former president of a debt relief services business in Brooklyn, was sentenced to 135 months in prison by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. Lerner faced charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Additionally, he continued his fraudulent activities while on pre-trial release. The court ordered him to forfeit approximately $2,340,154 to the government, with restitution to victims pending.
The sentence was announced by Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI's New York Field Office; and Harry T. Chavis Jr., Special Agent in Charge at IRS Criminal Investigation in New York.
“Today the defendant learned there are serious consequences for stealing his clients’ money," stated United States Attorney Peace. He emphasized that Lerner exploited the trust of his clients, many from the Eastern European community seeking financial assistance.
FBI Assistant Director Dennehy noted that “Marat Lerner stole $2.5 million from fiscally vulnerable clients." He highlighted Lerner's betrayal and continued fraudulent activities even after his arrest.
IRS-CI Special Agent Chavis remarked on Lerner's "glamorous life" funded by illicit gains and stressed that such actions would lead to prosecution and imprisonment.
Court documents revealed that Lerner owned the Lerner Group, a company offering debt relief services primarily targeting Eastern European immigrants in Brooklyn. Victims sought his help to reduce mortgage payments but instead found themselves defrauded as Lerner misappropriated approximately $2.5 million from their bank accounts under false pretenses.
Lerner used these funds for personal expenses like luxury cars and goods while some victims faced bankruptcy or foreclosure due to his scheme. After being arrested in January 2023 and released on bail with conditions not to re-offend, Lerner continued defrauding clients out of an additional $50,000 before having his bail revoked in September 2023 following new charges.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick M. Axelrod and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Genny Ngai from the Business and Securities Fraud Section.