By Jeanne Sager
LIBERTY — March 9, 2004 – A well-known Callicoon attorney is facing felony charges for allegedly defrauding his clients of more than $400,000.
Michael S. “Mickey” McGrady, 62, of Hankins, appeared of his own volition last Thursday at the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office to surrender himself to the police.
According to the State Police, McGrady implicated himself in defrauding 27 different clients over the past two years.
McGrady allegedly funneled funds that were supposed to be held in escrow at his law firm out of the practice and into accounts maintained by East Ridge Community in Hankins.
McGrady has long served as a lawyer for the Community, a private organization focused on rehabilitation for addicts with a school on Ridge Road and organic food store on Main Street in Hankins.
The investigation is ongoing by the New York State Police and Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether other clients of McGrady’s practice were victims of fraud.
McGrady was arraigned before Village of Liberty Justice Harold Bauman on charges of grand larceny in the second degree.
He posted the $7,000 bail set by the court and was set to appear in Liberty Village Court today at 10 a.m.
A call to McGrady’s Callicoon office revealed that the practice is closed – not even an answering machine picked up.