Rashad Ruhani

Rashad Ruhani, a former staff member of Queens Defenders, has been publicly reported to be involved in a significant fraud scheme. In April 2026, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars belonging to the nonprofit organization where he worked, Queens Defenders. Specifically, Ruhani and his wife, Lori Zeno, the organization's former executive director, stole at least $400,000, which they used for personal expenses, including a honeymoon in Bali and luxury purchases (Queens Daily Eagle, 2026; 2026/4/8). Ruhani was initially charged with multiple federal offenses, including wire fraud, theft, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, with potential prison sentences of up to eight years, though he is expected to plead guilty later in 2026 (Queens Daily Eagle, 2026; 2026/4/17). Additionally, Ruhani's wife, Lori Zeno, was also implicated in the scheme, with prosecutors alleging that she and Ruhani stole at least $300,000 to fund luxury vacations and other personal expenses. Zeno was hit with a superseding indictment that included new charges, and both are facing ongoing federal investigations (Queens Daily Eagle, 2025; 2025/7/23). The case is being prosecuted in the Eastern District of New York, with court documents indicating that Ruhani and Zeno's misconduct involved misuse of federal and city funds, with the total stolen amount possibly exceeding half a million dollars (CourtListener, 2025). As of April 2026, Ruhani has pleaded guilty and faces a potential prison sentence, but the final outcome of the case, including sentencing, has not yet been publicly reported.