It beats sleeping with the fishes.
A not-so-wise-guy stockbroker may lose his Westchester home for allegedly ripping off millions from a jailed Mafia capo and his notorious family.
State Supreme Court Justice Herbert Ramos yesterday barred stockbroker Maurice Gross from going through with the sale of his Chappaqua home after hearing how he’d allegedly looted Thomas F. Gambino’s stock account of almost $4 million.
Gambino, who’s serving a five-year sentence on federal racketeering charges, is the son of the late Carlo Gambino, the Gambino crime-family don who was eventually succeeded by John Gotti. Gambino was apparently worried that Gross would take the money from the sale of the house and run.
Also allegedly fleeced by Gross was Gambino’s brother, Joseph, who was hit with racketeering charges in 1992 and – along with Thomas – forced to pay a $12 million fine. Their wives and Thomas’ son also allegedly were bilked.
Gross had been the family’s stockbroker for 15 years when, in 1997, he started making dozens of unauthorized trades in their accounts to profit the failing brokerage firm, Gambino lawyer Peter Raymond charged in court.
In January, shortly after the Gambinos uncovered the alleged stock scam, Gross transferred his ownership shares of his home to his wife and put the property up for sale.
Raymond estimated the value of the 2,500-square-foot, ranch-style house – complete with heated, in-ground swimming pool – to be $500,000, far less than the amount he claims Gross ripped off from his clients.
The Gambinos are suing Gross and his defunct firm, Klein, Maus & Shire, for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. The firm closed in February, and CEO Mohammad Ali Khan has since fled the country, Raymond said.
The state attorney general’s office is probing the firm, Raymond said. Warrants were issued for Khan last week. Gross’ lawyer didn’t return calls.