Queens Defenders Founder Lori Zeno Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling Over $100,000

Lori Zeno, 66, the founder of the Queens Defenders legal‑aid organization, was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 from the nonprofit she once led. Prosecutors said Zeno and her former employee‑turned‑lover Rashad Ruhani used the stolen funds for luxury travel, expensive meals, a high‑end television, a designer handbag and a $6,000‑a‑month penthouse in Astoria.

Zeno claimed she was manipulated by Ruhani, but the court rejected the defense. Judge Rachel Kovner imposed the prison term and ordered restitution of the misappropriated money. The sentencing highlights the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating financial fraud within nonprofit legal‑aid groups.