Queens Defenders founder and partner accused of embezzling ,000 from nonprofit to fund lavish lifestyle, according to federal authorities.
The founder of the Queens Defenders, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing legal representation for indigent defendants, along with her partner, has been charged with embezzling approximately ,000 from the organization. The indictment, issued in federal court in Brooklyn, alleges that Lori Zeno, 64, and Rashad Ruhani, 55, misappropriated funds for personal expenses that included a luxurious penthouse apartment costing ,000 per month, lavish vacations to Bali and Southern California, high-end dining experiences, and various luxury items.
The scheme, which reportedly took place over several months in 2024, involved the couple using organizational credit cards to fund a series of extravagant purchases. Highlights from their alleged expenditures include a ,000 trip to Bali, a ,600 dinner at an upscale steakhouse, an -inch television purchased for ,300, and a ,200 shopping spree, alongside personal grooming expenses totaling 0 for teeth whitening.
Ruhani was apprehended at John F. Kennedy International Airport after returning from California and is expected to appear in court for arraignment. As of the latest reports, Zeno is not in custody but is scheduled to face the court at a later date. Zeno had been the executive director of Queens Defenders since 2018 but was removed from her position earlier this year amid growing scrutiny.
The indictment indicates that Zeno and Ruhani’s relationship began shortly after he was hired in October 2023 as a “client advocate.” Following their romantic involvement, Ruhani was promoted to oversee youth programs in June 2024, which allegedly facilitated the misuse of funds intended for legitimate organizational purposes.
Specifically, between August and October 2024, Ruhani reportedly submitted fraudulent expense claims totaling ,000 for the penthouse, fraudulently asserting that it was being used for client defense and foster parent care. The Queens Defenders organization had received about 8,000 in federal funding through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Both Zeno and Ruhani are facing charges of theft of federal funds and wire fraud. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the city’s Department of Investigation conducted the probe into the couple’s alleged activities. In response to these developments, Queens Defenders has refrained from commenting on the ongoing situation.
The fallout from the scandal has led to the city reassigning the organization’s contracts to the Brooklyn Defenders, which will officially take over on July 1. Representatives of Brooklyn Defenders have indicated that staff from Queens Defenders will join their organization to continue providing essential legal services to clients in Queens.
