Rory Hogan, Babylon boat salesman, charged with defrauding clients, Suffolk DA says

A Babylon boat salesman has been arrested and charged with grand larceny for allegedly defrauding clients out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Rory P. Hogan, 60, is accused of pocketing funds he failed to pay original boat owners after brokering sales of their vessels to new clients, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Monday in a news release.

Hogan’s alleged crimes took place over an 18-month period from Oct. 20, 2023 through this past April 7, Tierney said. As the owner of Riteway Marine Solutions, a dealership and full-service marina in Babylon, Hogan acquired more than 10 clients’ boats "under the pretense that he would sell the vessels on their behalf" and then pay them proceeds, according to the release.

After Hogan completed the transactions, he "allegedly lied to clients for months," claiming he had not yet sold their vehicles, Tierney’s office said. Hogan allegedly skirted distributing money to the original owners and used the funds for his own private purposes, the district attorney's office said. In one instance, Hogan allegedly failed to pay a client $70,000. In another, he's accused of failing to pay $250,000.

Between Aug. 13, 2024, and April 4, Tierney alleges, Hogan also knowingly wrote customers checks drawn on closed or insufficiently funded bank accounts.

"When boat owners entrusted this defendant with their vessels, they expected honest business practices and timely payment of proceeds," Tierney said in the release. "Instead, the defendant allegedly exploited that trust, converting thousands of dollars for his personal use while leaving his clients empty-handed."

Glenn Nugent, Hogan’s defense attorney, declined to comment when reached by telephone Monday afternoon.

Hogan surrendered for arraignment before District Judge Jonathan R. Bloom at First District Court in Central Islip on Friday, Tierney said. He pleaded not guilty to second-degree grand larceny, scheme to defraud and two counts of issuing bad checks, according to court records.

Bloom ordered Hogan released without bail, Tierney said. His charges are not eligible for bail, according to the district attorney's office.

Hogan wass scheduled to return to court Tuesday, Tierney said. If convicted of the grand larceny charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison

Anyone who believes they may be a victim of Hogan's is asked to call Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 631-853-5602.