Feds accuse Queens Defenders founder Lori Zeno of attempting to misappropriate funds from the organization once more.
Lori Zeno, the founder of the Queens Defenders, is embroiled in a federal fraud case that accuses her of attempting to further misappropriate funds from the legal defense organization she once led. Recent allegations state that while out on bond, Zeno tried to divert more than ,000 in refunds for supplies she had ordered through the Queens Defenders to her personal account, despite her ongoing legal troubles.
Zeno, age 64, and her partner Rashad Ruhani, age 55, were indicted earlier this year in June on charges related to the fraudulent appropriation of approximately ,000 intended for personal use. Prosecutors allege that the couple utilized organization funds to cover expenses such as the rent for their ,000-a-month penthouse apartment in Astoria. They reportedly claimed that this property served purposes such as “client defense” and “foster parent care.” Additionally, Zeno is accused of hiring Ruhani’s former spouse as a ,000-a-year director for a non-existent “health and wellness” program.
In December, Zeno allegedly used a Queens Defenders credit card to purchase nearly ,000 in supplies for this fabricated program, acquiring items including industrial scales and packing tables. In September of the previous year, she made further purchases exceeding ,600 for shelving and knives using organization funds. Following her indictment, Zeno purportedly attempted to return these items in a bid to secure quick cash, according to federal prosecutors.
Prosecutors have detailed that Zeno’s efforts to secure a direct refund involved numerous communications with the vendor, during which she insisted that the check be sent directly to her. Allegedly, she took this course of action even while claiming that the Queens Defenders was no longer operational. Her persistence reportedly led the vendor to block her phone communications.
Facing these serious allegations, federal prosecutors have requested that Zeno’s bond conditions be tightened, seeking additional electronic monitoring and prohibiting her from contacting any of the Queens Defenders’ vendors. Zeno was released on a 0,000 bond in June and has previously served as the executive director of the organization until her removal in January.
The unfolding case has raised questions about the management and oversight of nonprofit organizations, as well as the legal ramifications of financial misconduct within such entities. The situation continues to develop as legal proceedings advance, with Zeno’s next court appearance yet to be announced. The case highlights significant concerns within the realm of nonprofit administration and accountability.
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