An attorney from Wading River was indicted for allegedly stealing more than $855,000 from his clients and other parties in legal transactions.
In October 2023, Peter Giattino, the principal attorney at PVG Legal Solutions PLLC, allegedly received $4,500 from a client to pursue the recovery of funds from a car dealership related to a damaged vehicle. Giattino allegedly promised to recover “lots of money” for the client, but then became unresponsive to her after receiving her payment. Giattino allegedly did no work on the case and failed to return the client’s money after repeated requests to do so.
In September 2024, Giattino, in the course of his representation of the seller in a real estate transaction, allegedly received a buyer’s down payment for a residential property, totaling $94,000. Instead of holding that money in escrow until the closing, Giattino allegedly unlawfully spent the funds on gambling expenses and cash withdrawals.
In October 2024, Giattino was hired to represent a client on a traffic violation. Giattino allegedly indicated he would take the case on pro bono (i.e., no payment required for his services) and requested $480 to pay the fine on the traffic ticket. However, instead of paying the fine, Giattino allegedly used the money for personal expenses and never notified the client that her ticket was unresolved.
In June 2025, a client paid Giattino $4,450 to assist in a real estate deed transfer. After receiving this money, Giattino allegedly became unresponsive to the client’s request for status updates and failed to appear for multiple in-person appointments. Giattino also allegedly failed to return the client’s legal documents and unlawfully kept the money.
In June 2025, Giattino was hired to represent a client in the purchase of a Southampton home. On June 13, 2025, the buyer sent $751,687.71 via wire transfer to Giattino. Upon receiving these funds, Giattino allegedly began withdrawing the victim’s money through official bank checks, ATM transactions, and cash withdrawals. Giattino also allegedly spent a portion of the victim’s money at local and out-of-state casinos.
After Giattino allegedly caused the real estate closing to be unnecessarily canceled, the victim hired new counsel to represent him in the real estate transaction and repeatedly requested that his money be transferred to his new attorney. Giattino allegedly failed to return the victim’s money because, by October 2025, he had already spent all of it on unauthorized personal and gambling expenses.
In total, between October 2023 and October 2025, Giattino is alleged to have stolen $855,480 from his own clients and others.
On July 29, 2026, Giattino was arraigned on the indictment for the following charges before Justice Steven A. Pilewski:
- two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Class C felonies
- two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Class D felonies
- one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a Class E felony
- one count of Petit Larceny, a Class A misdemeanor
Giattino was released on his own recognizance because, under current New York State law, these crimes are deemed non-bail eligible.
“This defendant allegedly exploited his position as a local attorney and diverted funds that rightfully belonged to individuals relying on him for professional integrity and fiduciary responsibility,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute this case to deliver justice for the victims and to send a clear message that those who abuse their legal authority for personal gain will be held fully accountable under the law.”
Giattino is due back in court on September 25, 2026, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
Anyone who believes they have been victimized by Giattino is asked to call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 631-853-4626.