Former New York Judge Edward Harold King and Real Estate Investor Sam Sprei Charged in Wire Fraud Conspiracy

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A former New York State judge and a Brooklyn real estate investor were arrested and charged today with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to a complaint unsealed in federal district court in the Eastern District of New York.

Edward Harold King, a former Kings County Supreme Court Justice, and Sam Sprei, also known as Yechiel Sprei, Shimon Sprei and Eli Shapiro, each face one count of wire fraud conspiracy. Both men were taken into custody this morning and are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky.

The scope of the case centers on two individuals whose professional roles gave them access to judicial and real estate dealings in Brooklyn. King served on the bench in Kings County Supreme Court, which handles major civil and criminal matters in New York City’s most populous borough.

Sprei worked as a real estate investor in the same area. The Department of Justice has not released an estimated loss amount or number of victims in the charging document.

The charges alter the prior state in which both men operated without federal criminal accusations. The new state is that they are now criminal defendants in federal court facing potential prison time, fines and forfeiture if convicted. The case shifts from investigation to prosecution effective with the unsealing of the complaint on May 13, 2026.

Downstream, the defendants must appear in court and litigate pretrial motions. Federal prosecutors will next present evidence to a grand jury to seek a formal indictment. Conviction on the conspiracy count carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison.

Any assets traced to the alleged fraud scheme become subject to criminal forfeiture proceedings. The Eastern District of New York, which handles a high volume of public corruption and fraud matters involving New York City officials and business figures, will manage the timetable for discovery and trial.

This prosecution marks the latest federal action against a former state judge in the New York City area. The complaint was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York as part of its ongoing efforts to address fraud involving individuals in positions of public or financial trust.