N.Y. General Business Law § 358: Criminal prosecution

§ 358. Criminal prosecution. The attorney-general may prosecute every

person charged with the commission of a criminal offense in violation of

the laws of this state, applicable to or in respect of the practices or

transactions which in this article are referred to as fraudulent

practices. In all such proceedings, the attorney-general may appear in

person or by his deputy before any court of record or any grand jury and

exercise all the powers and perform all the duties in respect of such

actions or proceedings which the district attorney would otherwise be

authorized or required to exercise or perform; or the attorney-general

may in his discretion transmit evidence, proof and information as to

such offense to the district attorney of the county or counties in which

the alleged violation has occurred, and every district attorney to whom

such evidence, proof and information is so transmitted shall forthwith

proceed to prosecute any corporation, company, association, or officer,

manager or agent thereof, or any firm or person charged with such

violation. In any such proceeding, wherein the attorney-general has

appeared either in person or by deputy, the district attorney shall only

exercise such powers and perform such duties as are required of him by

the attorney-general or the deputy attorney-general so appearing.