We are delighted to announce that ZMO Law PLLC has hired former narcotics investigator Stephen Abreu as a full-time Paralegal/Investigator for our firm. Mr. Abreu brings ten years of law enforcement experience as a former investigator for the New York City Department of Social Services Human Resources Administration and then the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.
Mr. Abreu joins us on the heels of the departures of attorney Victoria Medley and paralegal Sophia Lattanzio. Ms. Medley has gone on to work as court attorney for the Hon. Adam D. Perlmutter in Brooklyn Criminal Court. Ms. Lattanzio has started law school at Fordham School of Law.
Mr. Abreu will substantially expand our office’s criminal investigative capabilities. We expect to use his investigative skills and experience to locate and interview witnesses, analyze data, and gather evidence in all of our cases, including wrongful convictions, sex crimes, homicides, and civil rights cases against police officers and prison guards. He will also use his experience as a fraud analyst to process and manage discovery and trial presentations in our fraud and white collar crime cases.
For four years, Mr. Abreu was a senior rackets investigator in the Prescription Drug Unit of the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, where he conducted surveillance and undercover operations, cooperated with local and and federal law enforcement agencies, testified in grand juries, and supervised other rackets investigators.
Before Mr. Abreu joined Special Narcotics, he was an investigator for the Department of Social Services, looking for fraud and abuse in Medicaid transactions and welfare programs. As a fraud investigator, he also conducted undercover investigations, executed search warrants, worked with other law enforcement agencies, testified in grand juries, and analyzed data to identify patterns of criminal activity.
Mr. Abreu left law enforcement after being arrested in connection with an altercation at a Brooklyn bar in 2020. He speaks fluent Spanish. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
“Steph will add immeasurably to our ability to pursue one of our principal missions, which is to uncover the true facts of the case for our clients,” said principal attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma. “His personal experience, deep knowledge of New York City and law enforcement, and Spanish-language ability position him to provide a level of empathy for clients and understanding of their needs that is exceptional in a law firm setting.”