Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest of a former Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department captain for allegedly stealing at least $10,000 from a Citibank account used by the department for their “Refreshment Fund.”
Alex November, 30, of Glen Cove, was arraigned before Judge Gary Carlton and charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a D felony), 12 counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (an E felony) and Official Misconduct (an A misdemeanor). The defendant was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on June 28. If convicted of the top count, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of two to seven years in prison.
“This defendant allegedly stole more than $10,000 from a Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department bank account and used that money for personal expenses,” DA Singas said. “Volunteer fire departments provide lifesaving emergency services to our communities and anyone treating these organizations like a honey-pot will be held accountable for their actions.”
The Board of Fire Commissioners and Chiefs for the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department said, “The Board of Fire Commissioners and Chiefs are aware of the allegations against our former member, Captain Alex November. We are thankful to the District Attorney's office for investigating this matter and look forward to cooperating with this investigation, so justice is fully served.”
DA Singas said that from June 2014 until early 2017 the defendant stole funds from the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department’s Citibank account “Refreshment Fund” by making unauthorized personal expenditures on a debit card. The Refreshment Fund was kept separate from the department’s regular business accounts and was managed exclusively by the defendant to supply beverages for the department.
To hide the crime, the defendant allegedly submitted forged bank statements to the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department’s Internal Audit Committee. In total, the defendant allegedly stole $10,072.78. For example, one of the actual bank statements showed an entry for a $204.50 ATM withdrawal at “One Mohegan Sun Blvd., Montville, CT,” however on the forged statement provided by November to the department, the corresponding entry referenced “Debit Card Purch.”
The President of the department first became aware of a problem with the account in early 2017 when Citibank advised the department that the account was overdrawn. Following an investigation, department members confronted November with evidence of the theft and November resigned from the department in August of 2017.
The defendant allegedly spent the money on purchases from Amazon, Microsoft, Payless Shoes, Wendy’s Harbor Freight Tools and Friendly’s Ice Cream.
Deputy Bureau Chief Robert Cavallo of DA Singas’ Public Corruption Bureau is prosecuting this case. George Michel, Esq. represents the defendant.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.