flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Fake architect caught in ‘Operation Vandelay Industries’ sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison

Architects

Fake architect caught in ‘Operation Vandelay Industries’ sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison

The fake architect must also pay a $115,000 restitution.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | September 6, 2017
A man's hands handcuffed behind his back

Pixabay Public Domain

Goodbye, Newman.

In a case saturated in pop culture references, a fake architect named Paul J. Newman has been sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison after he was caught in a New York state fraud investigation dubbed “Operation Vandelay Industries,” a reference to the 90’s sitcom Seinfeld.

Newman was sentenced on Sept. 5 after pleading guilty to six felonies that included grand larceny and fraud, the Associated Press reports. As part of his sentence, Newman must pay a $115,000 restitution.

According to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office, Newman rendered fraudulent architectural services in Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties dating back to 2010. His victims include municipalities and businesses.

For those not well versed in the show about nothing’s running gags, Art Vandelay, a phony architect, was the alias of George Costanza. Vandelay Industries later became a fictional company on the show. Seinfeld’s Newman, meanwhile, was Jerry Seinfeld’s arch nemesis.

Tags

Related Stories

Architects | May 9, 2017

Spiezle Architectural Group looks to the future

Now in its seventh decade, the firm expands its portfolio and moves into a larger HQs.

Architects | May 9, 2017

Movers + Shapers: The social connector

Studio Gang gains fans with buildings that unite people and embrace the outside world.

Architects | May 5, 2017

An acquisition extends Eppstein Uhen Architects’ national footprint

Has architects in 35 states after acquiring Burkettdesign in Denver.

Great Solutions | May 5, 2017

No nails necessary: Framing system comes together with steel zip ties and screws

Clemson University’s School of Architecture develops a patent-pending construction method that is gaining attention for its potential use in rapid, low-tech sustainable housing.

Multifamily Housing | May 3, 2017

Silicon Valley’s high-tech oasis

An award-winning rental complex takes its design cues from its historic location in Silicon Valley.

Architects | May 3, 2017

Avoiding trouble in paradise: Tips on building successfully in the Caribbean

The island setting itself is at the root of several of these disruptive assumptions.

Multifamily Housing | May 2, 2017

Multifamily housing: 7 exciting, inspiring innovations [AIA Course]

This AIA CES course features seven novel approaches developers and Building Teams are taking to respond to competitive pressures and build more quickly and with more attractive offerings.

Healthcare Facilities | May 1, 2017

Designing patient rooms for the entire family can improve patient satisfaction and outcomes

Hospital rooms are often not designed to accommodate extended stays for anyone other than the patient, which can have negative effects on patient outcome.

Architects | Apr 27, 2017

Number of U.S. architects holds steady, while professional mobility increases

New data from NCARB reveals that while the number of architects remains consistent, practitioners are looking to get licensed in multiple states.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.



Libraries

Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library

DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021