Lori Zeno, founder of the Queens Defenders public defender office in New York City, has been charged with diverting tens of thousands of dollars from the nonprofit to fund personal expenses, including a Bali vacation, luxury apartment rent, and cosmetic procedures.
Federal prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York unsealed an indictment Wednesday accusing Ms. Zeno and her husband, Rashad Ruhani, of wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and theft. Beginning in 2024, they allegedly misappropriated over $60,000 from the organization, using corporate credit cards to cover luxury clothing, lavish dinners, and a penthouse apartment purportedly for client housing.
Queens Defenders, established in 1996 by Ms. Zeno, represents criminal defendants unable to afford private lawyers through government contracts. Ms. Zeno served as executive director from 2018 until her suspension and eventual removal in early 2025 amid financial misconduct allegations and employee complaints.
Prosecutors detail how the couple spent lavishly: from designer brands like Neiman Marcus and Louis Vuitton to a honeymoon in Bali fully paid by Queens Defenders funds. They rented a penthouse apartment for two months, falsely claiming it housed a homeless child client, receiving $39,000 in reimbursements.
Mr. Ruhani, who joined Queens Defenders in 2023, was arrested at JFK Airport Tuesday night and ordered detained by a federal judge. Ms. Zeno has yet to be arrested, and her legal representative has not responded to requests for comment.
The Queens Defenders board expressed deep disappointment over the charges. Chair Doneath Powell confirmed Ms. Zeno’s suspension and firing followed an independent forensic audit uncovering financial irregularities.
Additionally, prosecutors revealed that Ms. Zeno used her authority to secure no-show positions for Mr. Ruhani’s relatives, including his daughter and an ex-wife, paying them tens of thousands in salaries. The ex-wife allegedly led a fictitious “health and wellness program” and was reportedly based in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Ruhani, 55, has a criminal past, including a robbery conviction leading to over 25 years in prison. He was on lifetime supervised release before his recent arrest.
Federal prosecutors emphasized that the misappropriated funds were intended to aid vulnerable community members. Meanwhile, the Queens Defenders’ services have faced disruptions, with Brooklyn Defenders set to take over the organization’s $32 million city contract under the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, which declined comment due to ongoing investigations.
