(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Marco Materassi, 59, formerly of Great Neck and currently living in Florida, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, for stealing $30,000 from his client’s escrow account for personal and business expenses.
“An attorney who steals from his clients violates the public trust and his own fiduciary duty to his client,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Today’s guilty plea represents our commitment to holding attorneys accountable for serious violations of professional duty.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, Materassi was hired to represent the seller in a real estate transaction for property in Lake Grove. On January 26, 2024, Materassi received the $30,000 down payment to hold in his escrow account, which was to be dispersed on the property’s closing date. The real estate transaction was ultimately canceled. It was thereafter agreed that the $30,000 down payment would be returned to the buyer. However, instead of refunding the money as agreed, Materassi avoided all calls from the buyer’s attorney, the buyer, and the seller. It was later revealed that, within four days of his receipt of the buyer’s down payment, Materassi had spent all of the money on business and personal expenses, all of which were unauthorized.
On June 15, 2026, Materassi pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. As part of his plea, Materassi must pay $30,000 in restitution or he faces up to 1-3 years in prison.
Additionally, Materassi has been disbarred by the State of New York and can no longer practice law. He is being represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tara K. O’Donnell of the Public Corruption Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Thomas Monaco of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit.
