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Queens Defenders founder sentenced 43 months for stealing hundreds of thousands from the legal services provider
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amNewYork
The founder of legal services provider Queens Defenders Service was sentenced Tuesday to 43 months in prison after admitting to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the nonprofit in a scandal that contributed to its collapse.
Zeno, 66, cried while reading a statement of remorse to U.S. District Judge Rachel Kovner, asking for a lenient sentence.
She also blamed Ruhani, 56, who she claimed manipulated her into improperly using the legal service providers’ funds.
Zeno was sentenced just hours after Ruhani, who got 57 months in prison for the crimes.
“Lori Zeno did not just steal funds; she weaponized her position of trust to destroy an embedded and impactful provider within the Queens justice system,” the Queens Defenders wrote in a court document filed Monday night.