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DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY | ||
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News Release |
Contact: Sherry Hunter | |
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Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment of two men who pretended to help immigrants trying to establish legal residence in the United States while stealing their money, thwarting their efforts to become citizens and, on at least one occasion, persuading a woman to enter into a false and bigamous marriage.
An investigation revealed that GENADII LEDNEV, A/K/A ANDREI LEBEDEV falsely claimed to be a lawyer specializing in immigration law. From late 2000 until March 2002, he advertised his services in Russian language newspapers offering legal counsel for people needing help with green cards, visas, citizenship and other immigration issues. He maintained an office which he called “Kaganovich and Associates – Specialized Immigration Law Firm” in a backroom at Irene Travel at 60 East 42nd Street. LEDNEV accepted fees for immigration advice and immigration-related documents which he then forged complete with seals and postmarks. He advised at least one client to marry SERGEI MALCHEVSKY for a fee to guarantee that she could stay in the United States. In fact, MALCHEVSKY was already married and within a month of marrying the victim took two more brides, one in Florida and another in New York. A hotline has been established for people who may have been victimized to call: 212-335-8900.
LEDNEV is charged with four counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree; Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, eight counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree; two counts of Forgery in the Second Degree; Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree; five counts of Practicing or Appearing As An Attorney-At-Law Without Being Admitted and Registered. MALCHEVSKY is charged with one count of Grand Larceny In The Third Degree, three counts of Offering A False Instrument For Filing in the Second Degree, one count of Bigamy and one count of Unlawfully Procuring a Marriage License.
Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Forgery in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree are D Felonies punishable by up to 7 years in prison. Bigamy, Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and Practicing or Appearing As An Attorney-At-Law Without Being Admitted and Registered are E Felonies punishable by up to 4 years in prison. Unlawfully Procuring A Marriage License is an A Misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail
Assistant District Attorney Louis O’Neill of the District Attorney’s
Special Prosecutions Bureau, presented the case to the grand jury, under
the supervision of Leroy Frazer Jr., Bureau Chief. Investigators Joseph
Lamendoia, Steve Akselrod, Tommy Pon and Jerry Harrington of the Investigations
Bureau and Carrie Maylor of the Special Prosecutions Bureau participated
in the investigation.
### DEFENDANT INFORMATION: GENADII LEDNEV
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