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The New York bar delivers its final gavel on Steven Fabrizio's tumultuous legal odyssey, shedding light on his controversial past.

From Glorious Heights to Disbarment

Steven B. Fabrizio's stellar rise, once the formidable general counsel of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and a reputed partner at Jenner & Block LLP, met a staggering fall when his law license was revoked in New York. His plummet from grace was fueled by a 2019 conviction involving felony third-degree sexual abuse and grim blackmail charges.

The sands of time seemed to turn abruptly when on Thursday, a quintet of justices from the First Judicial Department proclaimed the disbarment. Drawing attention to a spine-chilling virtual hearing in D.C. Superior Court, July 2021, Fabrizio's admission echoed that he ensnared a woman into a sexual trap using the specter of blackmail.

Chronology of a Scandal

Tracing back to June 1989, Fabrizio's name was etched onto the New York bar's roster. Yet, fast forward to the present, this mark of honor was sullied and expunged, effective from July 30, 2021. This pivotal date closely trails the haunting hearing in Washington, D.C.

Unraveling the tapestry of events, Fabrizio, representing himself, stood silently against the whirlwind of the disbarment motion, choosing not to challenge its trajectory.

The disciplinary documentation unveils the grim narrative. A virtual rendezvous on "SeekingArrangement" set the stage for Fabrizio's dark dance with his victim. An initial agreement, tainted with money's allure, turned nefarious when Fabrizio's desires clashed with her refusal. A relentless barrage of threats ensued, shadowing her privacy with a looming menace.

In a heart-pounding climax, law enforcement's trap ensnared him, swiftly followed by MPAA severing ties in August 2019. Justice, although belated, was served with Fabrizio behind bars for 11 fraught months and a subsequent registration as a sex offender.

Yet, the scars of his actions were etched across state bars. The D.C. Court of Appeals wielded its disbarment sword, with Pennsylvania's Supreme Court echoing the sentiment.

The final chapter in New York was spurred by the Attorney Grievance Committee's (AGC) motion this July. Their stern stance outlined that his felony conviction bore eerie resemblances to first-degree sexual abuse, paving the path to his automatic disbarment.

The panel, adorned by Justices Ellen Gesmer, Saliann Scarpulla, Manuel J. Mendez, Martin Shulman, and John R. Higgitt, brought this gripping saga to its denouement.