James hOgan/Riverhead
07-01-2008, 12:11 PM
July 1, 2008
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Text size: Ex-fire official pleads guilty to stealing $100,000
Former Riverhead fire district commissioner James Hogan took money in scheme prosecutors said was meant to cover up mistakes he made as salesman
BY LUIS PEREZ | luis.perez@newsday.com
1:01 PM EDT, July 1, 2008
A former Riverhead fire district commissioner pleaded guilty on Tuesday to siphoning $100,000 from the agency in a scheme prosecutors said was meant to mask years of his own mismanagement at a local farm supply company.
James Hogan, 57, pleaded guilty to three felonies: second-degree grand larceny, second-degree forgery and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. The charges were part of an October 2007 indictment.
As part of a plea bargain, Hogan is expected to serve 6 months in jail and repay the stolen money over five years of probation. State Supreme Court Justice Robert W. Doyle set the sentencing date for Aug. 19.
Prosecutor Mark Murray said Hogan, who worked a day job as a salesman for the Long Island Cauliflower Association, underbilled two local farmers for years, then tried to cover their debt using money from the fire district.
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See what's going on in and around your area >> Hogan, who made about $40,000 a year for the farm supply company and volunteered for the fire district, told fire commissioners they could get a 6 percent return on a $100,000 investment in a fictitious group called Bayer Agra Science, prosecutors said. While Hogan did not benefit financially himself, prosecutors said, he used the investment money to settle debts of $20,000 and $80,000 that the farmers unknowingly owed the agricultural group. "This is not a man who went to Las Vegas," Murray said, "but anyway you slice it, he stole $100,000 to cover up his screw-ups at work." The ruse was uncovered after a first-ever state audit of the fire district in early 2007. Police said that Hogan twice attempted to take his own life following an investigation that pointed to his involvement. Hogan's defense attorney, Tad Scharfenberg, said his client, who has no prior criminal record, was a "simple son of a farmer." "He found himself in a situation where he came up with a bad answer to resolve a problem, and now he's paying for that," Scharfenberg said. Hogan declined to comment outside the courtroom.
Search Login or register Home Delivery Updated: 10 minutes ago
Text size: Ex-fire official pleads guilty to stealing $100,000
Former Riverhead fire district commissioner James Hogan took money in scheme prosecutors said was meant to cover up mistakes he made as salesman
BY LUIS PEREZ | luis.perez@newsday.com
1:01 PM EDT, July 1, 2008
A former Riverhead fire district commissioner pleaded guilty on Tuesday to siphoning $100,000 from the agency in a scheme prosecutors said was meant to mask years of his own mismanagement at a local farm supply company.
James Hogan, 57, pleaded guilty to three felonies: second-degree grand larceny, second-degree forgery and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. The charges were part of an October 2007 indictment.
As part of a plea bargain, Hogan is expected to serve 6 months in jail and repay the stolen money over five years of probation. State Supreme Court Justice Robert W. Doyle set the sentencing date for Aug. 19.
Prosecutor Mark Murray said Hogan, who worked a day job as a salesman for the Long Island Cauliflower Association, underbilled two local farmers for years, then tried to cover their debt using money from the fire district.
Related links
Nassau's DWI Wall of Shame
View the wall of shame photo gallery >>
Mug shots: Suffolk drug bust
View the arrested >>
Local Police Mugshots
View police mugshot photo gallery >>
Photos of the Day
View photos of the day gallery >>
Car accidents on LI
View car accident gallery >>
Long Islands Class of 2008
Meet LI's 2008 valedictorians and the whole senior class.
Newsday's LI Newsmap
See what's going on in and around your area >> Hogan, who made about $40,000 a year for the farm supply company and volunteered for the fire district, told fire commissioners they could get a 6 percent return on a $100,000 investment in a fictitious group called Bayer Agra Science, prosecutors said. While Hogan did not benefit financially himself, prosecutors said, he used the investment money to settle debts of $20,000 and $80,000 that the farmers unknowingly owed the agricultural group. "This is not a man who went to Las Vegas," Murray said, "but anyway you slice it, he stole $100,000 to cover up his screw-ups at work." The ruse was uncovered after a first-ever state audit of the fire district in early 2007. Police said that Hogan twice attempted to take his own life following an investigation that pointed to his involvement. Hogan's defense attorney, Tad Scharfenberg, said his client, who has no prior criminal record, was a "simple son of a farmer." "He found himself in a situation where he came up with a bad answer to resolve a problem, and now he's paying for that," Scharfenberg said. Hogan declined to comment outside the courtroom.