Feds: NY lawyer told of Ponzi ruse in suicide note

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Feds: NY lawyer told of Ponzi ruse in suicide note
By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press | December 12, 2014 | Updated: December 12, 2014 7:15pm

NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer who authorities say attempted suicide to evade prosecution for a $5 million Ponzi scheme was arrested Friday at the hospital where he has been recovering since he was pulled from the Hudson River off Manhattan over a month ago.

Charles A. Bennett, 56, a former corporate lawyer at a New York City-based law firm, was permitted to remain free of shackles at Roosevelt Hospital after his attorney, Julia Gatto, made a passionate plea that he be freed on his own recognizance while he continues his recovery from physical and psychological injuries stemming from his Nov. 3 suicide attempt.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Lester argued unsuccessfully that Bennett be held without bail during an unusual remote court appearance in which the prosecution and Magistrate Judge Kevin N. Fox spoke into a cellular telephone from Manhattan federal court as Gatto and Bennett did the same from his hospital room.

Lester said Bennett's fraud from at least 2008 until last month was revealed in a 16-page handwritten suicide note. She said he had cheated at least 30 friends and family members out of millions of dollars, sometimes entire life savings.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Feds-NY-lawyer-told-of-Ponzi-ruse-in-suicide-note-5953628.php

[mrmpa]

1. and my neighbor who kited a check...............

for $80, spends his time in jail awaiting a trial. (not true, just an example of the disparity of justice).

[MADem]

2. Yeah, it's hard to kite a check anymore, with that automatic debit thing they do now~!

Now, instead of kiting checks, people who live on the edge get--and pay dearly for -- "overdraft protection."

[Spooky69]

3. Clearly this man is dangerous . . .

If he was so willing to take his own life what's to say he is not as equally willing to harm someone else . By his own word he cheated at least 30 friends and family out of millions . This man obviously cares very little for the well being of others, he is dangerous and belongs in lock-up .