October 12, 2005

DILLON ANNOUNCES ARREST OF:

SUSPENDED ATTORNEY & DISBARRED ATTORNEY

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced today that the DA’s Special Investigations Bureau has arrested Ronald Chisena, 54, of 765 Floral Park Road, Franklin Square and Richard Weiner, 70, 142 Leahy Street, Jericho.

According to Dillon, "On April 26, 2004, Ronald Chisena was suspended from the practice of law by an order of the Appellate Division, Second Department. Despite this fact, Chisena thereafter continued to engage in the practice of law and hold himself out to be an attorney licensed to practice in the State of New York. Specifically, he appeared at a house closing on behalf of a seller of a property in Uniondale, he engaged in negotiations with opposing attorneys on behalf of prospective buyers in connection with two prospective real estate transactions, and he engaged in settlement negotiations with a representative of an insurance company on behalf of the plaintiffs in a personal injury action. When asked about the suspension by other attorneys involved in these matters, Chisena lied and told them that he had been granted a stay of the suspension order, when in fact this was not the case. Chisena has been charged with four counts of Practice of Law by an Attorney Who Has Been Disbarred, Suspended or Convicted of a Felony, a Class A Misdemeanor."

"Richard Weiner, a disbarred attorney from Jericho, was disbarred from the practice of law on August 23, 2004," said Dillon. "After he was disbarred, Weiner continued to represent a client in a mortgage foreclosure action and related legal matters after his disbarment and failed to notify the court, his client or his opponent. Weiner is accused of continuing to practice law until June 22, 2005. Weiner has been charged with Practice of Law by Attorney Who Has Been Disbarred, Suspended, or Convicted of a Felony, a Class A Misdemeanor."

Both defendants will be arraigned later today in First District Court in Hempstead. The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.