58 pairs of Manolo Blahniks among hundreds of items seized at lawyer couple’s home amid fraud probe
A Toronto lawyer couple, Singa Bui and Nicholas Cartel, who once lived a life of luxury in multimillion-dollar homes and high fashion, are now under investigation for fraud, possession of the proceeds of crime, and laundering the proceeds of crime. This comes after more than $7 million of their clients’ money was stolen and used to fund their extravagant purchases.
The first public sign of police action came when officers executed a search warrant at the couple’s midtown home in December. They seized hundreds of designer goods, including 58 pairs of Manolo Blahnik shoes, 52 clothing items from Alexander McQueen, 16 pairs of Christian Louboutin footwear, accessories from Hermes and Chanel, and more. The total value of the seized items is estimated to be more than a million dollars.
Bui, a real estate lawyer and managing partner at Cartel & Bui LLP, admitted in a civil court affidavit that she had been embezzling client money since 2014. She initially took small amounts to make ends meet but eventually started taking tens of thousands of dollars at a time to fund luxurious vacations, fine dining, private-school tuition for their children, and expensive art and furnishings. She cited a shopping compulsion as a coping mechanism for stressors in her life.
Cartel, on the other hand, denies any involvement in the misappropriation of funds. He claims that his wife managed both their firm’s and their household’s finances and blames her for the theft. Despite this, police allege that the couple were living well beyond their means and had resorted to stealing from the firm’s trust account to support their lavish lifestyle.
Victims of the theft include homebuyers and sellers who used Bui as their lawyer for real estate transactions. Many have filed criminal complaints, with the total amount of stolen funds exceeding $7 million. The case has shed light on the vulnerability of individuals in real estate transactions and the lack of protection against fraud by legal professionals.
Both Bui and Cartel have been provisionally suspended by the Law Society of Ontario pending its investigation. Bui faces disciplinary charges for misappropriation of client funds and failure to act with integrity, while Cartel plans to appeal his suspension and clear his name. The Law Society typically disbars lawyers who misappropriate client funds, as seen in recent disciplinary rulings.
The investigation into Bui and Cartel’s fraudulent activities continues, with police seizing luxury goods as evidence of money laundering and possession of proceeds obtained through crime. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of due diligence and oversight in legal and financial transactions.
