Indicted Attorney Captured After Three Years On The Run

Edward Christensen practiced law on Long Island.  According to local prosecutors, on November 27, 2007, Christensen acted as the attorney for a property owner in the sale of a real estate parcel in Suffolk County. When disagreements arose between the property owner’s company and a former shareholder, both parties agreed to place $1 million into an escrow account while they worked out an agreement. That escrow account was controlled by Christensen.   

Three other clients also used or retained Christensen (pictured) with respect to various legal matters and transferred a total of more than $117,000 into his escrow account.
 
The escrow account transactions were:
 
·         Client 1 transferred $47,000 into the account on October 1, 2007
·         Client 2 transferred $41,431 into the account on March 13, 2008
·         Client 3 transferred $28,606 into the account on March 25, 2008 and April 4, 2008  
 
According to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, from about January 2, 2008 through October 14, 2008, Christensen stole $211,000 from the escrow account by transferring money into his business account or by making cash withdrawals. Christensen used the cash for personal expenses, utility bills, and rent. Then on October 17, 2008, Christensen disappeared.  
 
His wife, from whom he was separated, filed a missing persons report with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The case was put before a Nassau County grand jury which indicted Christensen on October 20, 2009, and a warrant was issued for his arrest at that time.  
 
On October 4, 2011, Nassau DA Investigators were notified by the Wyoming State Police that Christensen had been picked up for hitchhiking in Laramie County, Wyoming. He was extradited to Nassau County and arraigned. Bail was set at $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash.  
 
Christensen has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted and is due back in court November 9.  
 
“This defendant paid his bills on the backs of innocent clients who placed their trust in the wrong man,” Rice said. “He compounded that deceit by running from his crimes, but he learned the hard way that you can’t hide forever. I want to commend the excellent work done by the Wyoming State Police in capturing Mr. Christensen.”