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 count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, three counts of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, and thirteen counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. These are all felonies—and they're just in Rensselaer County alone. He’s also charged with felonies in Albany County and Saratoga County. If convicted of the highest count charged, Newman faces somewhere between 5 and 15 years.
Some Archinecters have already commented on the case in the forum, predominantly wondering how this slipped through the system. “Nobody thought to go to the NYSED website and verify this guy's license for seven years?” asks David Cole, AIA.
I mean...how ridiculous would you feel, standing in a court of law and defending yourself, if you got arrested and charged via an operation called "Operation Vandalay Industries"?!? I can't stop laughing.
Everything about our profession is absurd and we deserve every single joking stereotype lobbed at us. And I say that in the most loving, adoring, communitarian way possible. There's nothing I'd rather be than an architect and I love being around other architects SO much.
Well...
All 9 Comments
Why does the title call him an architect when the article is about the fact he is not?
Good catch, headline updated
He is probably the best architect in town.
architeture isnt even a good profession, let alone a good scam. Geez, this puts a whole new spin on the phrase "crime doesn't pay"
Spelling doesn't seem to be in the books for you either Jia-x.
Ow yeah I made a few errors. Thanks for pointing that out. Not
I bet you he is still a lot more experienced in construction than many 'licensed' architects though. xD
The accused only collected 200,000 in design fee's over the the 6 year stint, He should of found a more lucrative profession to imitate.
"Newman was hired as the architect for the development of a multi-story senior living community, receiving in excess of $8,000."
A, I wonder if the project is any good, and B, what wrong with our society. There are some serious structural problems with the profession and the culture it serves if fraud seems preferable to the ridiculous systematic barriers to anyone who isn't born on third base.
Once again the villain is an architect and not the army of fraudulent contractors, politicians, educators, lobbyists, developers, etc. etc.
8000$ for a whaaat? Lol.
I mean...how ridiculous would you feel, standing in a court of law and defending yourself, if you got arrested and charged via an operation called "Operation Vandalay Industries"?!? I can't stop laughing.
Everything about our profession is absurd and we deserve every single joking stereotype lobbed at us. And I say that in the most loving, adoring, communitarian way possible. There's nothing I'd rather be than an architect and I love being around other architects SO much.
Why is it that no one ever gets arrested for impersonating a marine biologist?
When was the last time a marine biologist's mistakes got someone hurt?
Well...
Ahhh it's from Seinfeld. Smdh.
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