New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced a Syosset man was sentenced today to up to ten-and-a-half years in prison for his role in a $12 million Ponzi scheme that targeted nearly 50 victims—many of them seniors—between 2015 and 2017.
Matthew Eckstein, 52, pleaded guilty on Feb. 8, 2022, before Judge Teresa Corrigan to charges of Grand Larceny in the First Degree (a B felony) and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony). The defendant was sentenced today to 3-1/2 to 10-1/2 years in prison.
Eckstein originally pleaded guilty to the charges on Sept. 26, 2019, but later withdrew his plea. A new indictment was secured in August 2020, but court closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the case.
The State Comptroller’s Office, United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissioner, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, FBI, and New York State Attorney General’s Office all assisted on this case.
“Matthew Eckstein brazenly took advantage of people who trusted him to line his own pockets and fund his opulent lifestyle,” said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “Stealing the savings of senior citizens is unconscionable. I commend the work of District Attorney Donnelly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service and thank them for their continued partnership with my office and diligence…
