Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Shifty Park Slope Optical Store Owner Accused Of $3.4 Million Loan Fraud
By
Lauren Evans
Published Dec 3, 2015
Modified Dec 3, 2015
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
Lauren Evans
Published Dec 3, 2015
Modified Dec 3, 2015
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
The owner of two Park Slope optical stores has been accused of taking out more that $3.4 million in fraudulent loans, which he allegedly poured into shopping sprees at high-end stores and lavish trips to Atlantic City with his model girlfriend.
Maksim Grinberg, who runs D&M Optical and 9th Street Vision out of the same Park Slope building, was indicted on 148-counts of fraud yesterday for his sybaritic pastimes, which allegedly included shopping sprees at Bergdorf Goodman, late nights at the Borgata Casino and leases on Mercedes and Audis, because one luxury car in NYC is simply not enough.
“It is very clear, had [the defendant] not been caught, he would have continued to do this,” assistant district attorney Sabrina Thanse said during Grinberg's arraignment. “He thinks he is above the law.”
Grinberg allegedly took out loans for medical equipment using the names of seven doctors between 2010 and this year, with Steven Schuster, the operator of a cooperative medical supply store, also allegedly taking four percent of the loan money. Loan applications state that Grinberg should have acquired 150 pieces of medical equipment, when his business in fact only had four. His estranged wife, Diana Gets, was also reportedly in on the scheme.
“These doctors had no idea what was going on,” Thanse said. One caught on to the shady dealings only after he got a call from a bank accusing him of missing a payment on his $1 million loan.
Grinberg pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Wednesday.
Tagged
fraud
optometrist
park slope
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
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 .