A.G. Schneiderman Announces Indictment Charging Brooklyn Attorney And His Client With Witness Tampering In Mortgage Fraud Case

Attorney Jon A. Lefkowitz And His Client, Alexander March, A Fugitive Since 2011, Allegedly Conspired Together In An Effort To Discredit Witnesses Who Previously Testified In A Grand Jury That Indicted March And His Wife

SYRACUSE – November 9, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today the arrest and indictment of attorney Jon A. Lefkowitz, 46, of Brooklyn, NY and the indictment of Alexander March, 33, currently a fugitive in Canada. Both defendants have been charged with impersonating attorneys and forging judicial subpoenas in an attempt to discredit witnesses testimony in a jury trial against the wife of Alex March, which led to an indictment of March, his wife Sima March and two others for a mortgage fraud scheme in 2011.

In 2011, after the indictment was filed, the Marchs fled to Canada in an effort to avoid prosecution; they are in the process of being extradited back to Onondaga pursuant to the Treaty of Extradition between Canada and the U.S.

“Tampering with a witness threatens the integrity and fairness of our judicial system,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We will not tolerate those who seek to distort the outcome of a fair trial.”

On May 16, 2011, an Onondaga County Grand Jury returned a 24-count indictment charging Alexander March, Sima March, and two other co-defendants with the crimes of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, in relation to a mortgage fraud scheme. According to statements made by prosecutors at arraignment, after the indictment was filed, arrest warrants for Alexander March and his wife were issued, but the Office of The Attorney General (OAG) later learned that the Marchs had fled the United States together and entered Canada at the Champlain Border Crossing on May 13, 2011. Since that time, the OAG has worked to extradite Alexander and Sima March and return them to Onondaga County for prosecution.
Also according to the indictment and statements made by the prosecutor at arraignment, after the commencement of extradition proceedings, Lefkowitz and March allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to tamper with the Grand Jury witnesses who had testified against the Marches in attempt to undermine their credibility by demanding that they sign affidavits and answer questionnaires that would discredit their prior sworn testimony. In furtherance of their conspiracy, Lefkowitz and March allegedly impersonated various individuals, including attorneys, and sent out forged “judicial subpoenas” that appeared to have been authorized by a New York State Supreme Court Judge.

Lefkowitz was arraigned on the count indictment today before the Honorable Anthony F. Aloi in Onondaga County Court who set bail in the amount of 10,000 cash or bond. Lefkowitz was charged with Forgery in the Second Degree, a Class D felony, in violation of Penal Law §170.10(1) (4 counts); Tampering with a Witness in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, in violation of Penal law §§215.10(a) and (b) (10 counts); Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, in violation of Penal Law §§190.25(1) and (2) (2 counts); and Conspiracy in the Sixth Degree, a class B misdemeanor, in violation of Penal Law § 105.00 (1 count).

The indictment also charges Lefkowitz’s client, Alexander March, with four counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, ten counts of Tampering with a Witness in the Fourth Degree, seven counts of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, and one count of Conspiracy in the Sixth Degree.

The charges against Lefkowitz and March are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants face up to 7 years in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Tarkowski of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau. The Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Gary Fishman and Deputy Bureau Chiefs Stephanie Swenton and Meryl Lutsky. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.

The case is being investigated by Attorney General Investigators Samuel Scotellaro and David Buske, led by Deputy Chief Investigator Tony Karam. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Dominick Zarrella.

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