The San Francisco County District Attorney's Office on Thursday announced felony theft charges against a lawyer accused of stealing from small businesses by threatening them with American with Disabilities Act lawsuits he had no intention of bringing, a novel move in an already unusual prosecutorial effort against ADA lawyers that some say is politically motivated.

The 18-count indictment against Beverly Hills-based Kousha Berokim of Berokim & Duel accuses him of stealing from 17 businesses and nonprofit organizations, including the  San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, by threatening them with lawsuits in letters and emails that prosecutors say contain false statements.