Archinect - News

Architect to Architect? to Jail.

2017-11-29T13:16:00-05:00

The stamp, forged signatures, false paperwork — they were like the scaffolding of a building of his own design, one with no firm foundation.

A fake architect named Paul J. Newman has been sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison for posing as an architect in eastern New York.

Newman also was ordered Tuesday in Saratoga County Court to pay more than $115,000 to his victims in Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties.

Newman pleaded guilty in June to grand larceny and fraud after an investigation by New York's attorney general dubbed "Operation Vandelay Industries." Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office said Newman had rendered fraudulent architectural services since 2010. Victims included municipalities and businesses.

Schneiderman dubbed the operation to nab Newman "Vandelay Industries" in reference to a long-running joke on "Seinfeld" about a fictional company by that name. A character named Newman was Jerry's nemesis on the sitcom.

Catch Me If You Can: NY State's fake architect sentenced to 2 1/3-7 years in state prison

2017-09-05T20:21:00-04:00

Paul J. Newman, 49, was discovered back in April to have been practicing as an architect despite lacking both a license and registration. The investigation, dubbed "Operation Vandelay Industries," found that Newman, stealing the license number of a registered architect and forging a NY State Registered Architecture Stamp, had drafted architectural renderings for over 100 properties, as well as foundation inspections, field reports, energy compliance certificates and engineer letters.

The suspect was then arrested on three indictments charging him with 58 felonies related to his unauthorized practice of architecture, forgery, and submission of documents to various municipalities. In June, he entered felony guilt pleas in all three counties—Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga—to a total of six felony counts, including Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class D felony; Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony; Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, a class E felony; and Scheme t...

New York Man Found Guilty of Pretending to be an Architect, Faces up to 7 Years in State Prison and $155K in Restitution

2017-06-19T12:08:00-04:00

Back in April, we reported that Paul J. Newman, 49, was charged in three counties with pretending to be an architect. The man was neither registered nor licensed, yet worked on numerous housing projects in the Capital Region. Caught in an investigation dubbed “Operation Vandelay Industries,” Newman was accused of drafting architectural renderings for over 100 projects, as well as foundation inspections, field reports, engineer letters, and energy compliance certificates.

Now, Newman has entered felony guilt pleas in all thee counties. He will be sentenced anywhere from 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison. He will also have to pay over $155K in restitution.

“Throughout the course of his fraudulent career, the defendant repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for the public safety of New Yorkers and a determination to cheat the system,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “The state law is clear – no license, no architectural work for you. No one is above that standard.”

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New York State Man Faces Up to 15 Years for Practicing Architecture Without Being Licensed or Registered

2017-04-21T12:28:00-04:00

Paul J. Newman, 49, is the president of Cohesion Studios. He’s also facing charges in three counties for pretending to be an architect. According to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Newman worked on numerous housing projects in the Capital Region despite being neither licensed nor registered. He is accused of defrauding construction companies, business owners and municipalities.

Discovered through an investigation dubbed “Operation Vandelay Industries”, Newman allegedly drafted architectural renderings for over 100 properties, as well as foundation inspections, field reports, energy compliance certificates and engineer letters. On each, he signed as a registered and license architect, using a forged New York State Registered Architect Stamp or Professional Engineer Stamp. Among his alleged victims are municipal governments and senior living facilities.

These are serious charges: Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, nine counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, one ...