Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Brooke Astor's Son Pleads Not Guilty to Criminal Charges
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 28, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 28, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Anthony Marshall, the only son of New York society legend Brooke Astor, pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of criminal activity related to the handling of his mother's finances. The 83-year-old former Marine spoke in court once (to utter "not guilty") and, after his bond was approved, left the courthouse using a cane. He also apparently cried.
Among the accusations the Manhattan DA's office made against Marshall and his former lawyer Francis Morrissey (a PDF of the indictment is here): They stole $600,000 of Astor's money to pay for Marshall's vacation home; Marshall retroactively gave himself a raise of almost a million dollars (his job was managing his mother's money) without Astor's knowledge; they convinced Astor she was poor (when she had $120 million) and made her sell a beloved painting; they forged a codicil to her will that, in turn, benefited Marshall; they used Astor's money to pay Marshall's yacht captain and an employee in Marshall and Morrissey's theater production company, all without her knowledge; and Marshall stole two of Astor's paintings (which he later returned).
Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau said, "Marshall and Morrissey took advantage of Mrs. Astor's diminished mental capacity in a scheme to defraud her and others out of millions of dollars."
Marshall's lawyer said his client would be exonerated, "Brooke Astor loved Tony, her only child, and whatever he received was in accordance with her wishes."
And Marshall's son, whose claims that his father was not taking proper care of Astor sparked interest in how he was managing her affairs, spoke to the Daily News. Philip Marshall said, "I sincerely hope there is a way justice can be achieved without my father going to jail."
Tagged
affairs
Anthony Marshall
anthonymarshall
Brooke Astor
court
crime
DA Robert Morgenthau
daily news
greed
heir
indictment
inheritance
manhattan
manhattan da
Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau
manhattanda
money
morrissey
new york
news
Philip Marshall
philipmarshall
robert morgenthau
robertmorgenthau
theater
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .