Attorney Convicted of Fraud Disbarred in NY

(CN) – New York attorney Steven M. Coren was disbarred after pleading guilty to felony charges of defrauding the federal government through a payroll scheme.     The Manhattan-based New York Appellate Division ruled that Coren was automatically stricken from the roll of attorneys after he pleaded guilty to 16 counts of money laundering, wire fraud, conspiracy and obstruction.     According to the court, Coren was involved in a scheme with his client contractors to submit false payroll information to contracting public agencies in order to create the appearance that the workers were being paid prevailing wages. Money that was to be placed in a special trust was then diverted to Coren’s clients.     He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.     Coren had been an attorney in New York since 1978.