Long Island Attorney Who Stole $2 Million From 4-Year-Old Girl Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud

A Long Island attorney who defrauded $2 million out of a 4-year-old girl to pay for his luxurious lifestyle has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to pay more than $1 million in restitution.

Vincent Trimarco Jr., 51, of Smithtown, was legally representing the girl’s family after her father died in 2005 while in custody of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. The girl, Rebecca Schaefer, who is now 20, was supposed to receive the amount between the years 2012 and 2017 as part of a wrongful death lawsuit, The New York Daily News reported.

Schaefer has never gotten any of the government payouts and the civil lawsuit is reportedly still ongoing. Trimarco pleaded guilty to one count of mail and wire fraud in federal district court in Central Islip during a trial.

Schaefer’s father was Scott Eriksen, 20, who in 2005 was pulled over by Long Island cops for driving under the influence of marijuana. According to a report by the New York State Commission of Correction, a fight broke out between the officers and Eriksen during which he was knocked to the ground and hit his head. The report states that none of the officers requested medical help for Erikson despite him complaining of pain. He was later taken to a hospital where he died.

While entering his guilty plea, Trimarco said he purchased several properties, as well as a $200,000 Ferrari F430 Spider and a $57,000 Jaguar convertible with the stolen money. He will face up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced. The total amount of fine, which is yet to be decided, is reportedly likely to range between $1 million and $1.5 million.

"We have finally brought Trimarco down and brought him to justice," John Ray, the current lawyer for Schaefer, said. "Now perhaps this little girl can have the money she deserves that she never got growing up."

Trimarco was charged in 2017 in connection with defrauding Schaefer but didn’t plead guilty. He was released on $500,000 bond.