New York Real Estate Attorney Weeped As Judge Sentenced Him In A $4.4 Million Fraud Scheme
A New York real estate attorney broke down in tears as he admitted to stealing $4.4 million. Manhattan prosecutors say the lawyer was to use the money for pandemic equipment. Instead, he used the cash to fuel a romance with his CEO girlfriend.
A Manhattan jury found former New York real estate attorney Bryan McKenna guilty in July 2025. Prosecutors accused him of draining more than $4 million from a client.
The New York Post reports McKenna’s defense lawyer argued he was battling financial struggles. He also told the court that McKenna was desperate to get his son help for mental health issues.
However, prosecutors claimed he spent the funds to benefit his personal life. They also say McKenna used the money to advance a romantic relationship with AstZen Group CEO Duni Zenaye.
The 62-year-old lawyer sobbed in court. He wiped away tears with a tissue as the judge handed a sentence of up to six years behind bars.
How The Scam of The New York Real Estate Attorney Started
The massive fraud scheme began in 2021.
Packaging manufacturer Elkay Plastics reached out to AstZen Group to buy 500,000 boxes of latex gloves.
Elkay Plastics then put $4.45 million into an escrow account controlled by McKenna.
McKenna promised to keep the funds in the escrow until AstZen Group officially shipped off the gloves.
The Manhattan DA says that McKenna had emptied the account. They also say McKenna never delivered the medical-grade equipment.
Assistant DA Jonathan Borle alleged that McKenna spent the money on him and AstZen Group’s then CEO Zenaye.
However, defense attorney Eric Franz argued that McKenna only spent the money to help his family.
Franz further bolstered his argument by saying that McKenna was a desperate father. That McKenna was only trying to deal with his son’s medications and mental wellbeing.
However, prosecutors fired back. They arguing he instead used the money to enrich his personal life. They say he also wanted to advance the ‘romantic relationship’ he had with Zenaye, who faced no charges.
The DA’s office claimed that McKenna mad multiple chances to return the stolen money in summer 2021. However McKenna kept lying about where it was.
New York Real Estate Attorney Pleads Guilty
In July 2025, the Manhattan DA announced that the New York real estate attorney had pleaded guilty to stealing millions from the escrow account.
But McKenna’s fraud only came to light during an investigation regarding him stealing more than $260,000 from two clients.
Court documents show that in 2021 McKenna represented a woman in selling her Manhattan condo. He took sales proceeds of $1,149,900 into his escrow account.
His client instructed McKenna to pay her $835,000 and hold back $184,600. This was to cover the IRS capital gains tax owed on the sale.
She soon realized her tax liability had been reduced by about $24,000. As a result, she ordered McKenna to pay her that amount.
While he handed over the $24,000, McKenna kept the remaining $160,000. He then diverted it to his own bank account.
In October 2023, he represented a client in the sale of a Brooklyn townhouse.
McKenna received $762,000 in sale proceeds. These funds were deposited into his attorney escrow account.
The client ordered him to pay off two mortgage loans totaling $653,000 from the proceeds. McKenna carried out the client’s instructions.
But McKenna never paid the leftover $109,000 to the client. He again transferred the funds straight into his own account.
By December 2023, McKenna had voluntarily resigned from the New York State Bar. However, prosecutors indicted in September 2024.
McKenna’s Double Life Of The New York Real Estate Attorney As A Stand-Up Comic
McKenna appeared to lead a double life as a stand-up comedian in New York before he got disbarred. He posted Instagram posts showing him performing at The Comic Strip in the Upper East Side.
During the pandemic lockdown, McKenna’s social media featured short comedy skits and family moments with his wife and children.
Read More About The Crooked New York Real Estate Attorney On MFI-Miami.com
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