Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the arrest on March 30, 2017, of **Lawrence G. Tosi, age 58, of Woodland Park, New Jersey** by members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit. Tosi, formerly an Attorney-At- Law, licensed in the State of New Jersey, is charged with two counts of Theft by Deception (Second Degree, two counts of Misapplication of Entrusted Property (Second Degree) ; one count of Forgery (Fourth Degree); one count of Bad Checks (Second Degree) and one count of Tampering with Records.
The charges arise out of Tosi’s law practice, where Tosi is alleged to have stolen client funds.
In one case, Tosi is alleged to have failed to turn over funds to a client he represented a seller in a real estate transaction.
In another case, Tosi is alleged to have failed to turn over client funds in an estate matter. In both cases, Tosi converted the misapplied funds to his use. At this time the approximate total amount of theft is in the range of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars.
Tosi maintained a law office at various times in Little Falls, Wayne and most recently in Woodland Park, New Jersey. Tosi was admitted to practice law in 1990. By order dated November 1, 2016, the New Jersey Supreme Court disbarred Tosi and ordered his name stricken from the role of Attorneys.
Clients who have suffered financial loss as a result of attorney dishonesty can file a claim for reimbursement with the NJ Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection in Trenton, New Jersey.
A second-degree offense is punishable by between 5 and ten years in State Prison; a third-degree offense is punishable by between 3 and five years State Prison; a fourth-degree offense is punishable by up to 18 months in State Prison.
Tosi was charged by way of a complaint summons, and he was released pending disposition of the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation is continuing. Passaic County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jay W. McCann is prosecuting the case against the defendant.