It’s not a pretty picture for the former head of the National Arts Club.
The state Attorney General’s office filed a $2 million suit against Aldon James, the former head of the tony Gramercy Park club, finding he’d cheated it out over $1 million during his tenure as club president.
The oddball and his twin brother James hoarded a dozen apartments at the club for their personal use, and used club cash to go on shopping sprees at antique fairs and out to dinner, the suit says.
“For years, Mr. James took advantage of his role as the leader of the National Arts Club to deprive the organization of valuable assets that should have been used to advance its charitable mission,” said AG Eric Schneiderman.
By hoarding the apartments that should have been rented out to club members and their friends, James cost the institution about $1.5 million over just the past six years, the suit said.
James, who was evicted from the apartments by the club last year, has said he and his brother shouldn’t be held responsible for hogging the apartments because they’re hoarders.
He maintained the club had been well aware that they “suffered from a compulsive hoarding disorder” and should have been more understanding.
The AG’s suit contended that was just one way in which James’ 25-year reign as president had gone to his head. James “Lost sight that the organization existed not to serve his own private ends and reputation,” the suit says.
He also forgot that the club’s coffers weren’t his wallet.
James and his brother would often go on “shopping sprees” armed with the club’s debit card or check book, the suit says.
While presenting himself as a “wealthy and generous supporter of the club’s mission” who didn’t need to draw a salary, James actually “lived off the club; he regularly treated the club’s property as his own in order to fund enarly every aspect of his comfortable lifestyle,” the suit says.
He also took livery services all over – and out of – the state on the club’s dime, and when he wasn’t eating for free in the club, would charge it for the meals he’d eat at restaurant and coffee shops.
Between 2006 and 2011, his shopping trips, car rides and meals cost the club $250,000, the suit says.
While James has been loudly proclaiming he’s the victim of a “smear campaign” by the club in a suit he filed against it, the AG’s office said he was downright silent when they interviewed him – he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination a whopping 500 times, the filing says.
The suit seeks to force James to pay back $2 million, and to be banned from the club forever.
The club gave him the boot last year, but James filed suit to be reinstated. That action is pending.
Today’s news isn’t all bad for James. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, which had launched a probe into possible criminal wrongdoing, announced it wouldn’t be prosecuting James.
They said they concluded James’ actions do “not rise to the level of provable criminal conduct,” and are “more appropriately handled through the civil action” filed by the AG.
James’ lawyer, Gerald Shargel, said, “We’re very pleased with the decision of the District Attorney, but it’s bittersweet because the false allegations os misappropriation in the suit are outrageous.”
“We intend to vigorously defend the action,” Shargel said.
The club’s lawyer, Roland Riopelle, said the court action “validates the club’s position that it was a victim all along.”