Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Karen Lampert (DOB 01/28/47) formerly of 280 South Mountain Road, New City, New York has been arrested and arraigned for stealing thousands of dollars from former friends and acquaintances under false pretenses.

Lampert is charged with:

- One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony

On or about August 23, 2006, Lampert, acting with another person, stole $16,000 from an acquaintance. The defendants met with the acquaintance at his home and claimed that they needed $16,000 in cash the next day to settle a false court claim that was filed against them in Westchester County. Lampert and her codefendant told the victim they would be in a great deal of trouble without the cash and convinced the couple to purchase $16,000 worth of PowerChannel stock.

PowerChannel was a once promising company involved in producing and distributing hightech boxes that would enable users to access the Internet using a regular television as a computer monitor. Although the defendants did own some PowerChannel stock, and were peripherally involved in the company, those shares of stock were restricted, meaning they could not be sold, and were thereby worthless to the victim or anyone else.

After the victim began to seek repayment, Lampert moved to California. She was arrested Saturday when she returned to New York to visit with relatives.

Lampert was arraigned this morning in Rockland County Court by the Honorable William A. Kelly. Bail was set at $100,000 bond or $20,000 cash. The defendant was remanded to the Rockland County jail.

Lampert is due to return to court on November 25, 2009.

She faces up to seven years in state prison.

Lampert’s arrest resulted from an extensive investigation conducted by the Clarkstown Police Department and the District Attorney's Office Special Investigation’s Unit. Executive Assistant District Attorney Gary Lee Heavner will prosecute the case.