Salvatore Strazzullo, the New York City lawyer infamous for his colorful client roster and personal scandals, was found dead in his car outside his parents’ Brooklyn home on Saturday. He was 52. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear and his cause of death has not yet been determined, the reported NYPost.
‘Nightlife Lawyer’
Strazzullo, who earned the nickname “Nightlife Lawyer” for his penchant for taking on cases involving celebrities and embarrassing circumstances, faced multiple pending criminal cases for allegedly exploiting elderly clients for millions of dollars.
Famous clientele
In 2011, Strazzullo defended rapper Foxy Brown in a case in which she was accused of flashing a neighbor with whom she had been arguing. Strazzullo was prepared to invoke “the underwear defense” if the case went to trial, arguing that his client had simply not been wearing underwear that day. However, the case was ultimately dismissed.
In another case, Strazzullo represented Milana Dravnel, an exotic dancer who sued Oscar de la Hoya for $100 million in 2007. The case involved racy photos of the boxing legend in his underwear, which Ms Dravnel sold to a West Coast photo agency for $70,000. Mr De la Hoya’s team claimed the photos had been faked.
Personal scandals
The infamous attorney faced numerous legal troubles throughout his career, including allegations of sexual harassment and criminal charges for theft and fraud.
In 2011, Desiree DeMartino, a former paralegal and employee, filed suit against Strazzullo for sexual harassment in Brooklyn federal court. The lawsuit alleged that Strazzullo locked Ms. DeMartino in a conference room, pleasured herself in her presence and committed other inappropriate acts, including forcibly kissing her and touching her breasts.
More recently, Strazzullo faced criminal charges for theft and fraud, accused of misusing his escrow account to fund a lavish lifestyle. In April, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez alleged that Strazzullo was running a Ponzi scheme, using money from one client to pay off another client while collecting tens of thousands of dollars in fees from high-end restaurants and hotels. Prosecutors also alleged that he spent the stolen money on luxuries such as a $100,000 BMW and a $13,000-a-month apartment.
Strazzullo pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of grand theft and scheme to defraud, but the evidence against him was substantial. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned Strazzullo’s actions, stating that he stole the “nest eggs” of seniors who trusted him.
At the time of his death, two criminal cases, including another alleged theft of $1.5 million from three clients, were pending against Strazzullo.