Attorney Peter Giattino is facing a felony charge for allegedly stealing $750,000 from a real estate client. He is suspected of spending the funds on gambling and other personal expenses.
Peter Giattino, a Long Island, New York, lawyer, is facing a felony charge for allegedly stealing six figures from a client he hired for a real estate transaction.
An anonymous client hired Giattino to represent him in the purchase of a Southampton home in June 2025. The customer wired $750,000 to Giattino for the purchase.
However, over the next five months, the attorney allegedly withdrew the funds through official bank checks, ATM transactions, and cash withdrawals for gambling and other personal expenses.
By October, Giattino’s order failed to close on the Southampton mansion, and his client asked his attorney for funds. However, Giattino ended up spending the entire $750,000.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement: “The charges against this defendant reflect a grave betrayal of the trust that the victim placed in this attorney in his role as attorney and fiduciary.” “The integrity of the attorney-client relationship is a cornerstone of our society, and our firm will not tolerate qualified professionals abusing their positions for personal gain.”
Giattino was charged Thursday with second-degree grand larceny and is scheduled to appear in court again in April.
Giattino’s attorney, Bob Macedonio, told Newsday on Thursday that his client was innocent, while standing by Giattino’s long career as a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office.
“Mr. Giattino is a well-respected attorney in Suffolk County,” he said. “Once we have the opportunity to review all documents and continue discussions with the prosecutor’s office, we believe we will be able to resolve this case in Mr. Giattino’s favor.”
Newsday reported that cases similar to Giattino’s are occurring on Long Island. But other than the New York State Lawyer Client Protection Fund, which helps clients recover stolen funds, there has been “little to no action by state authorities.”
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