U.S. Attorney Breon S. Peace | U.S. Department of Justice
Marat Lerner, the former president of a debt relief services business based in Brooklyn, has been sentenced to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis in federal court in Brooklyn. Lerner was also ordered to forfeit approximately $2,340,154 to the government, with restitution to victims to be determined later. He pleaded guilty to the charges in February 2024.
The sentencing was announced by Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Field Office; and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation in New York.
"Today the defendant learned there are serious consequences for stealing his clients’ money," stated United States Attorney Peace. "His victims were hard-working people... Instead of helping them, Lerner took advantage of their trust and vulnerability."
FBI Assistant Director Dennehy added that Lerner "stole $2.5 million from fiscally vulnerable clients" and continued his fraudulent activities even after being arrested initially.
IRS-CI Special Agent Chavis remarked that Lerner's actions led victims into financial ruin: "Lerner lived a glamorous life by taking money out of the pockets of people in his own community."
Court documents reveal that Lerner owned the Lerner Group, which claimed to offer debt relief services such as mortgage modifications primarily to Eastern European immigrants in Brooklyn. Many victims sought his help due to financial difficulties but instead found themselves defrauded.
Lerner accessed victims' bank accounts under false pretenses and stole about $2.5 million meant for mortgage payments. He misled clients by claiming funds were held in escrow or with affiliates when they were actually used for personal expenses like luxury goods.
After being arrested in January 2023 and released on bail with instructions not to commit further crimes, Lerner continued his scheme by opening new bank accounts and stealing an additional $50,000 from clients before his bail was revoked following new charges.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick M. Axelrod and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Genny Ngai from the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section.
