Tags Posts tagged with "Grand Larceny"

Grand Larceny

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Stacey Hirsch Allegedly Stole Approximately $80,000 from Selden Church to Use for Personal Expenses

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 2 that Stacey Hirsch, 48, of Saint Lucie, Florida, was indicted for Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, for allegedly embezzling funds from a Selden church.

“Financial crimes against community institutions not only damage their operations but undermine the trust that binds our community together,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We intend to pursue this case vigorously to send a clear message that those who exploit positions of trust for personal gain will face the appropriate consequences under the law.”

According to the investigation, between June 2022 to May 2023, Hirsch, formerly of Centereach and a former bookkeeper at the Selden church, allegedly stole about $80,000 from the church’s bank account. Hirsch allegedly did this by writing checks to herself and her husband without authority or for any legitimate church related reason or expense. She allegedly used the money to pay her credit card bills, which included charges for food, numerous restaurants, shopping, and other everyday expenses. She also allegedly used the money to pay for utilities and other household expenses.

The alleged theft was discovered after the church board learned that the church’s bills were not being paid.

page1image25687872The treasurer reviewed the finances for the previous years and discovered that, as a result of her alleged theft, there were insufficient funds to pay the church’s legitimate expenses. Hirsch was fired after the discovery and moved to Florida shortly afterwards.

On April 10 Hirsch was arrested in Florida and was thereafter extradited to Suffolk County.

On May 2 Hirsch was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei for Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony.

Justice Mazzei ordered Hirsch released from jail without bail because her charge is considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail.

Hirsch is due back in court on June 5 and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. She is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Miller of the Financial Crimes Bureau and the investigation was conducted by Detective Thomas Speciale of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Section.

Timothy Kjaer

Timothy Kjaer Faces 4 to 12 Years in Prison if He Does Not Pay $3 Million in Restitution by September 2028

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 12 that Timothy Kjaer, 49, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, formerly of Shoreham and former owner of several auto shop businesses, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree for failing to report $16 million in taxable sales in order to steal more than $1.3 million in sales tax money from New York State.

“For over a decade, this defendant brazenly stole money from New York State by pocketing the sales tax he collected from customers instead of remitting it to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. In total, this defendant stole over $1.3 million by failing to report more than $16 million in taxable sales,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Today’s plea serves as a clear reminder that failing to pay taxes is a serious crime against the public that will not be tolerated. I thank our partners at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for continuing to work with my Office to investigate and prosecute tax fraud and to protect taxpayers.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, from June 1, 2011 to November 30, 2021, Kjaer failed to submit dozens of Sales Tax returns and falsified others that substantially underreported the taxable sales of several businesses he owned in Suffolk County.

Kjaer owned the following businesses that failed to report sales tax revenue to New York State:

  • Automotive Marine & Styling Center, Inc., and Real Deal Auto Inc. – 1165 E. Main Street in Riverhead;
  • Not Just Tint, Inc., S&T Autoworks 1, Inc., and S&T Auto Centers, Inc. – 3165 Route 112 in Medford;
  • EZ Credit Auto Sales, Inc. – 2910 Route 112 in Medford;
  • Universal Auto, Inc. – 1831B Route 112 in Medford; and
  • Universal Auto Sales & Service, Inc. – 8B Middle Country Road in Coram.

    In total, Kjaer failed to report taxable sales of approximately $16,142,986 in order to steal $1,385,605 in sales tax collected on behalf of New York State. Kjaer admitted that the sales tax money was collected from customers on behalf of New York State and that he intentionally failed to remit those funds as required.

    On September 12, 2024, Kjaer pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a Class B felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen Braslow. As part of his plea, Kjaer will be required to pay $3,000,000 to New York State or face imprisonment. Kjaer is due back in court on September 12, 2025, and he is being represented by Matthew Tuohy, Esq.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sacks of the Financial Crimes Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Assistant Chief Investigator Danielle Paolucci of New York State Department of Taxation and Finance with additional forensic audit assistance from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney on Oct. 13 announced the arrests of two Internal Revenue Service employees, Tina White, 36, of Bellport, and Shawana Williams, 45, of Centereach, for allegedly unlawfully receiving thousands of dollars for allegedly filing separate, fraudulent Small Business Administration loan applications.

“These individuals are alleged to have stolen government funds by abusing a program intended to help legitimate small business owners pay their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I want to thank the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for working with my office to investigate and prosecute those who would steal taxpayer funds.”

According to the investigation, on May 7, 2020, and July 6, 2020, respectively, White and Williams allegedly filed COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications with the Small Business Administration in which they each claimed to be the owners of businesses in need of financial assistance due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

White allegedly claimed to be the Chief Operating Officer of an agricultural business, and Williams allegedly claimed to be the Chief Operating Officer of a medical services business.

However, neither business existed. White allegedly received $6,000 and Williams received $4,000 as initial cash advancements while their respective loan applications were being processed. Both loan applications were ultimately denied, but White and Williams never returned the illicit money they received.

White and Williams are each charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. Additionally, Williams is charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E felony, and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a Class E felony.

On October 12, 2023, White and Williams were arrested by investigators of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and arraigned before Suffolk County District Court Judge, the Honorable Anna Acqafredda. Judge Acqafredda released both defendants on their own recognizance during the pendency of their cases. White is due back in court on October 23, 2023, and is being represented by Michael Brown, Esq. Williams is due back in court on October 26, 2023, and is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katharine D’Aquila of the Public Corruption Bureau, with investigative assistance by District Attorney Investigator Brian Wood of the Public Corruption Squad, as well as Special Agents Ellen Quackenbush and Kimberly Goldstein of the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

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Photo from SCPD

Just released! Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two men who allegedly stole a wallet in Melville and a female who allegedly subsequently used the victim’s credit card.

Two men allegedly stole a wallet from a woman’s purse at La Piazza, located at 512 Walt Whitman Road, on November 4, 2022 at approximately 8:50 p.m. A woman (in photo on right) then allegedly used a credit card from the wallet at Walgreens, located at 325 New York Ave. in Huntington Station.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

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Jonathan Sunderland

Suffolk County Police arrested a Hempstead man on Jan. 9 for stealing jewelry and electronics from Walmart stores throughout Suffolk County since September.

Jonathan Sunderland used a specialized tool to open locked display cases at Walmart stores and stole more than $40,000 worth of jewelry and more than $3,000 worth of electronics at Suffolk County Walmart stores. Following a coordinated investigation by Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Squad detectives, Sunderland was identified and located at the Morris County Jail in New Jersey where he was being held on similar charges from the Boonton Township Police Department.

Fugitive Unit detectives traveled to the New Jersey jail at approximately 12:10 p.m. today and placed Sunderland into Suffolk County Police custody. He was charged with:

 Grand Larceny 3rd Degree- for stealing $16,000 worth of jewelry from Walmart, located at 1850
Veterans Memorial Highway in Islandia, on September 26, 2022

 Grand Larceny 3rd Degree- for stealing more than $25,000 worth of jewelry from Walmart,
located at 750 Middle Country Road in Centereach, on November 6, 2022

 Grand Larceny 3rd Degree- for stealing more than $3,000 worth of electronics from Walmart,
located at 901 Boulevard East in Yaphank, on November 10, 2022.

Sunderland, 34, of 45 Jackson St., was remanded to the Suffolk County Jail in Yaphank. He will be
arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip on January 10.

Anyone who believes they could be a victim is asked to call Sixth Precinct Squad detectives at 631-
854-8652.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

On Nov. 14 Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney  announced the indictment of Douglas Valente who is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny for allegedly stealing more than $425,000 from two of his clients.  

 “This defendant allegedly breached his fiduciary duty to his clients by stealing money that was supposed to be held in trust in his attorney escrow account,” said DA Tierney. “As a result of an extensive investigation done by my office, the defendant will be held accountable for these deceitful actions.”  

Valente, 56, the principal attorney at the Valente Law Group based in Stony Brook is alleged to have stolen more than $425,000 from his attorney escrow account over a 6-month period in 2020. He is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.  

According to the investigation, between April 14, 2020 through May 31, 2020, Valente is alleged to have stolen $181,201.67 from a 78-year-old client.  Valente represented the elderly woman in the sale of her home and the proceeds of the sale were put into Valente’s escrow account.

Valente was required to send half of the proceeds to his client and the other half was to be sent to her matrimonial attorney to be held in escrow until her divorce was finalized.  Although Valente did send half of the proceeds to his client, he allegedly failed to send the remaining half of the proceeds to her attorney in the matrimonial proceeding.   As a result, when his client’s divorce was finalized, she was unable to obtain the remaining proceeds from the sale of her house.  

During the time period of September 28, 2020 through October 13, 2020, Valente is alleged to have stolen $248,027.84 from Guaranteed Rate Inc., a mortgage lender.   Valente was the attorney and settlement agent for Guaranteed Rate Inc. in a refinance transaction. Guaranteed Rate Inc. wired money to Valente’s escrow account to be dispersed.   The defendant was supposed to send a portion of the proceeds of the refinanced mortgage to the prior mortgage company to pay off the existing mortgage and he allegedly failed to do so.   Because of this, Guaranteed Rate Inc. had to pay off the existing mortgage in the amount of $248,027.84.  Valente allegedly used the funds belonging to both clients on his own personal and business expenses. 

Valente surrendered to the District Attorney’s Office this morning and he was arraigned by the Honorable Richard Ambro in County Court in Riverhead.   His offenses are considered non-bail eligible under New York State law, so he was ordered to surrender his passport released on his own recognizance.   Valente is being represented by John Carman, Esq. Valente is due back in court on December 14.

If you believe you have been victimized by Douglas Valente, please call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at (631) 853-5602.       

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Donna Planty of the Financial Crimes Bureau.

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the person who allegedly stole merchandise from a Commack store last month.

A man allegedly stole a cultivator, wheelbarrow and roofing shingles from Home Depot, located at 5025 Jericho Turnpike, on September 13 at 4 p.m. The merchandise was valued at approximately $1500.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

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Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the men who allegedly used stolen credit cards at two businesses in Centereach and Lake Grove in September.

Three men allegedly used a stolen credit card at Walmart, located at 161 Centereach Mall, and Speedway, located at 2825 Middle Country Road, Lake Grove on September 5. The credit cards were stolen from a pocketbook in a vehicle on Talisam Drive in Dix Hills on September 4 or 5.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

File photo
Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the men who allegedly stole merchandise from a South Setauket store in August.

Three men, including the man pictured on the right, entered Home Depot, located at 255 Pond Path, and allegedly stole several thousand dollars’ worth of electrical merchandise on August 7.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate three people who stole allegedly money from a Huntington Station store this month.

Two males and a female allegedly stole approximately $2,600 from a cashier while making a purchase at Saks Fifth Avenue, located at 230 Walt Whitman Road, on August 6 at approximately 2:30 p.m. One of the men was wearing a white T-shirt and a dark-colored hat, the second man was wearing an orange T-shirt and a white hat and the female was wearing a black shirt and a green skirt.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.