In the month since prominent Staten Island attorney Richard Luthmann was arrested on federal kidnapping, wire fraud, and extortion charges,clients have been receiving emails like this:

"We will be winding down the law firm," it says. "As such, you will need to represent yourself...or retain a new attorney." 

The impending shutdown reflects the seriousness of the charges and practical considerations.

Luthmann remains in jail, too dangerous, the government says, to be out on bail. 

“There are allegations in there that have to be addressed," says attorney Joe Sorrentino.

Luthmann is accused of selling shipping containers packed with "cheap filler material" to businesses wanting to buy scrap metal. The feds also say he plotted to have a partner held at gunpoint to collect a debt.

The accusations stunned the political establishment on Staten Island, where Luthmann, formerly the lawyer for the state Reform Party, is close with many elected officials.  

But at the time of his arrest, Luthmann also was being hounded by angry clients.

NY1 has learned at least 11 people filed complaints against him last year with the state Grievance Committee, a professional disciplinary board. 

"He's just taking the money and not doing anybody's work," said Justine Campanelli, a former client.

Campanelli hired Luthmann to resolve a family dispute over a Greenpoint, Brooklyn home. One year later, in August, she filed a grievance against him. 

"No paperwork, no nothing to prove that he actually did work for us," she said.

Peter Libutti needed a lawyer to save a home from foreclosure. He found Luthmann through Google. 

"Let me see who's the best lawyer on Staten Island for foreclosures," Libutti said.

Libutti paid a $3,500 retainer. But two years later, the house is still in foreclosure, and Luthmann is suing him for $16,000 in unpaid legal fees.

"Most of the times that, when we go there and they put the case over for six months, we don't speak or see him for six months, and he keep billing and billing and billing," says Raskumarie Libutti, a former client.

Another complainant is identified as "John Doe 1" in a memo by prosecutors in arguing against bail for Luthmann. The client claims Luthmann threatened to hire someone to shoot him and then had the client arrested for trying to leave the office with his legal files. Luthmann also had a restraining order placed against the client.  

Nine of 11 grievances filed between June and November have been dismissed. Complainants were told their complaints should be handled by a fee arbitration committee. Two other complaints are still under investigation.

Luthmann's attorney is traveling overseas and could not be reached for comment. An employee at Luthmann's firm blames the grievances on clients who didn't want to pay for Luthmann's services.