Indicted Queens Defenders founder accused of new theft while awaiting trial

Indicted Queens Defenders founder accused of new theft while awaiting trial

Lori Zeno, the former head of Queens Defenders accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars with her husband from the nonprofit she founded, has continued to siphon money from the organization as she awaits trial, according to the feds.

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‘We were being punished’: Former Queens Defenders staff say forced transition has been difficult

‘We were being punished’: Former Queens Defenders staff say forced transition has been difficult

In the immediate weeks following the forced departure of Queens Defenders’ controversial executive director, Lori Zeno, the atmosphere inside the legal services nonprofit felt noticeably lighter. 

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Former Queens Defenders boss stole tens of thousands of dollars from organization she founded, feds say

Former Queens Defenders boss stole tens of thousands of dollars from organization she founded, feds say

Lori Zeno, the former head of Queens Defenders, allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars from the organization she founded to fund luxury vacations, a teeth-whitening procedure and other personal expenses, prosecutors said this week.

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Queens Defenders faces uncertain future after city cuts major contract

Queens Defenders faces uncertain future after city cuts major contract

Queens Defenders, the World’s Borough’s largest public defender organization, is facing an uncertain future after the city said that it no longer trusted the firm to carry out the promise of a $32 million contract to provide criminal defense to low-income New Yorkers in Queens.

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Queens Defenders staff unionizes following controversial director’s ouster

Queens Defenders staff unionizes following controversial director’s ouster

Paralegals, legal assistants and other support staffers at Queens Defenders have begun to unionize, an effort that began almost immediately after the organization’s longtime, controversial leader was booted from her post earlier this year.

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