The legal troubles of a former New York City judge have taken a dramatic turn as he faces serious fraud charges. Edward Harold King, who resigned from the bench last year amid allegations of misconduct, was arrested alongside real estate developer Yechiel “Sam” Sprei. The duo is accused of deceiving investors out of millions in a fraudulent real estate scheme.
According to federal prosecutors, King and Sprei orchestrated a complex wire fraud conspiracy by persuading investors to contribute $6.5 million under the guise of a legitimate property investment. However, only a small portion of this amount was returned, leaving investors out of pocket by at least $5 million.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Wang highlighted during their court hearing that the fraudulent transaction is part of a broader investigation into multiple schemes involving Sprei. “It’s safe to say many, many millions of dollars have moved through his bank accounts in the last few years,” Wang stated.
King, aged 72, and Sprei, 37, were both released on bail with an upcoming court date to finalize their bond agreements. Despite the serious nature of the charges, both King and his legal representative, Michael Vitaliano, chose not to comment after court proceedings. Sprei’s lawyer, Ezra Lent, also refrained from making any statements.
During Sprei’s arrest, an unusual incident occurred when Sprei attempted to mislead federal agents by claiming he only had his cellphone. However, a second phone was discovered during a search, raising further suspicions about his activities.
The outcome of this case could see both King and Sprei facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. “As alleged, the defendants stole millions of dollars from investors by cynically leveraging King’s position as a sitting judge to lend false legitimacy to supposed investment opportunities,” declared U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. in a formal statement.
King’s resignation on December 31, 2025, followed the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct’s investigation into similar accusations of defrauding investors and violating judicial conduct rules. These rules prohibit full-time judges from participating in legal practice or business activities.
Prosecutors detailed how King and Sprei misled investors by proposing a commercial real estate purchase in Freehold, New Jersey, through a bankruptcy auction. Investors were instructed to deposit $6.5 million into King’s escrow account supposedly to prove their liquidity. Despite promises that the funds would remain untouched, millions were swiftly transferred to Sprei’s account.
When investors later demanded the return of their money, only $1.5 million was reimbursed, with King offering various excuses and alternatives for the remainder, according to the prosecution.
King’s rapid rise and fall in the judiciary is marked by his 2023 election to the New York City Civil Court and subsequent 2024 appointment to the state’s trial court. Before his judicial career, King worked in private practice, served as an administrative law judge, and acted as legal counsel to the state assembly.
The Commission’s administrator, Robert Tembeckjian, remarked on the gravity of the allegations, stating they were “so egregious as to warrant his permanent departure from the bench.”
