Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that an indictment has been handed up against Barnett R. Rogers (DOB 11/30/29) of 32 Henry Street, Orangeburg, New York, charging him with:

• One count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony.

Rogers is accused of stealing more than $70,000 from a Queens couple he represented during the sale of a parcel of vacant land in Piermont.

The defendant represented the couple in a number of proceedings leading up to the sale of the property. After the closing, Rogers converted monies in his escrow account to himself rather than turning over the net proceeds of the sale to his clients, both of whom are in their seventies.

The victims reported Rogers’ actions to the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office as well as to the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, the arm of the Courts that imposes discipline on attorneys. In the face of potential action by the Grievance Committee, Rogers elected to resign from the practice of law.

District Attorney Zugibe said, “This defendant not only violated the trust that his clients placed in him, but also let down the entire legal system, which counts on members of the bar to conduct themselves in an ethical matter.”

Arraignment on the indictment is pending.

He faces up to fifteen years in state prison if convicted.

Rogers’ arrest and indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by the Rockland County Special Investigation’s Unit.