Suffolk County, N.Y. – Douglas Valente, 57, the former principal attorney at the Valente Law Group based in Stony Brook, was sentenced today to one and one-third to four years in prison for stealing over $800,000 from three former clients. Valente, who now resides in Florida, pleaded guilty to three counts of grand larceny in the second degree.
“An attorney’s duty is to protect their clients’ interests, not exploit them for personal gain,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. “We will not tolerate crime committed with a law degree any more than we would when committed by violence or deception. This office remains committed to vigorously prosecuting any individual who abuses their position of trust, regardless of their status or profession.”
According to court documents and Valente’s admissions during his guilty plea, the thefts occurred between April 14, 2020, and October 13, 2020. In one instance, Valente stole $181,201 from the proceeds of the sale of his elderly client’s home. While half of the proceeds were sent to the client, the other half, which was supposed to be held in escrow by her matrimonial attorney, was never transferred. As a result, when the client’s divorce was finalized, she was unable to obtain the remaining proceeds from the sale of her home.
In another instance, Valente stole $248,027 from Guaranteed Rate Inc., a mortgage lender. As their attorney and settlement agent in a refinance transaction, Valente received funds wired to his escrow account. However, he failed to send a portion of the refinanced mortgage money to the prior mortgage company, diverting the funds for his personal use.
The case was prosecuted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, which emphasized its commitment to holding legal professionals accountable for misconduct and ensuring justice for victims of financial exploitation.