Salvatore Strazzullo, a notorious New York City attorney known for his high-profile clientele and scandalous personal life, was found deceased in his vehicle outside his parents’ Brooklyn residence this past Saturday. The 52-year-old lawyer, often referred to as the “Night-Life Lawyer,” was embroiled in several ongoing criminal cases, accused of defrauding elderly clients of millions.
Strazzullo’s colorful client list, which included celebrities in legal trouble and exotic dancers suing professional athletes, along with his personal controversies, made him a regular feature in tabloid news. His cases often revolved around peculiar or embarrassing situations, frequently linked to celebrities’ late-night or substance-induced escapades. This reputation led to his nickname, first coined in a 2012 New York Times profile.
One of Strazzullo’s most notable cases involved defending rapper Foxy Brown in 2011. Brown was facing charges for allegedly exposing herself to a neighbor during a dispute. Strazzullo was prepared to use what he termed “the underwear defense” if the case went to trial, arguing that his client had simply neglected to wear underwear on the day of the alleged incident. The charges were eventually dismissed by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Walsh.
Strazzullo also represented Milana Dravnel, an exotic dancer who sued boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya for $100 million in 2007. De la Hoya allegedly tried to prevent Dravnel from selling provocative photos of him dressed in women’s lingerie. After the photos were released, Dravnel sold them to a West Coast photo agency for $70,000. De la Hoya’s team claimed the photos were manipulated, leading to a lawsuit and the revelation of numerous scandalous allegations. By June 2008, Dravnel dropped the charges after signing a confidentiality agreement with de la Hoya’s team.
In addition to his high-profile cases, Strazzullo faced legal troubles of his own. In 2011, a former employee and paralegal, Desiree DeMartino, sued Strazzullo for sexual harassment. DeMartino alleged that Strazzullo had trapped her in a conference room and engaged in inappropriate behavior, among other accusations.
More recently, Strazzullo was facing criminal theft and fraud charges, accused of defrauding elderly clients to fund a luxurious lifestyle. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez alleged that Strazzullo had used his escrow account as a Ponzi scheme for years, misappropriating funds from one client to pay another while accumulating substantial charges at high-end restaurants and hotels.
Strazzullo was accused of stealing nearly $3.8 million in total, which he allegedly spent on luxuries such as a $100,000 BMW and a $13,000 per month apartment in the Battery Park City complex. He pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree grand larceny, four counts of second-degree grand larceny, and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud.
At the time of his death, Strazzullo was also pleading not guilty in a separate Brooklyn criminal case, where he was accused of stealing $1.5 million from three other clients. Both cases were still pending at the time of his death. The cause of Strazzullo’s death remains unclear.