Lori Zeno, former executive director of Queens Defenders, and Rashad Ruhani, a former employee of the organization, were sentenced in Brooklyn federal court on July 28 for their roles in embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the nonprofit legal services provider. United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner sentenced Zeno to 43 months’ imprisonment and Ruhani to 57 months’ imprisonment. Both defendants were ordered to pay $656,349.57 in restitution to Queens Defenders and received forfeiture money judgments totaling nearly $290,000.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Office; and Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner at the New York City Department of Investigation, announced the sentences.
United States Attorney Nocella said, “Lori Zeno brazenly betrayed and abused her position of trust as the director of a nonprofit organization, while Rashad Ruhani worked hand in hand with her to steal funds intended to provide legal services and other critical resources to disadvantaged members of the community. Instead of upholding the law and serving those in need, the defendants greedily served themselves by spending those funds on luxury goods, lavish travel, and other personal indulgences. Today’s sentences serve as a reminder that our Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal public funds and thereby deprive our communities of essential services.”
Barnacle said, “Rather than honoring their responsibility to the community and safeguarding the resources entrusted to them, Lori Zeno and Rashad Ruhani chose to embezzle non-profit funds for their own interests. Their actions deprived people who needed and deserved legal support. Today’s sentencing reinforces our commitment to protecting the integrity of the services non-profits provide.”
Shihata said, “Providing indigent New Yorkers with access to quality legal services is essential to ensuring a justice system governed by the rule of law and respect for constitutional rights. Lori Zeno and Rashad Ruhani betrayed their responsibility … Instead, they chose to embezzle hundreds of thousands … spending lavishly on themselves … including on a penthouse apartment … vacation … extravagant purchases at luxury retailers…. I thank…the U.S. Attorney’s Office…and FBI…for working with us…”
According to court filings presented during sentencing proceedings, Zeno co-founded Queens Defenders—a group providing legal aid primarily for indigent residents—and hired Ruhani as an employee in October 2023. Between June 2024 and January 2025 they diverted organizational funds for personal use including foreign travel (such as over $10,000 spent on a Bali vacation), expensive meals delivered repeatedly to their penthouse apartment residence paid through altered lease documents concealing involvement; large purchases like an 85-inch smart television; shopping sprees at Ralph Lauren or Neiman Marcus; more than $4,000 spent on a Louis Vuitton handbag; fraudulent hiring practices benefiting associates who did little or no work (including paying one relative $60,000 annually). As a result, Queens Defenders lost its city contract providing criminal defense services.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Noble, Sean M. Sherman, and Brooke Theodora from the Public Integrity Section.