DA: Farmingdale fire chief, son charged in payroll scam
Keith Ryan Sr., 53, of Farmingdale was charged with falsifying business records in the second degree, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail, in connection with a payroll scam at the Farmingdale Fire Department, prosecutors said. (April 2, 2010) Credit: NCPD
The chief of the Farmingdale Fire Department and his son are among three department employees facing charges of larceny and falsifying business records in a payroll scam, prosecutors said Friday.
Keith Ryan Sr. and Keith Ryan Jr., both of Farmingdale, and Robert Anderson of Massapequa Park were arrested March 24, the Nassau district attorney's office said. They were released on their own recognizance.
Ryan Jr., 31, and Anderson were both part-time dispatchers who prosecutors said no longer work for the department. Ryan Sr. still works for the department, a Farmingdale official said.
Ryan Jr. improperly worked shifts for Anderson last August to repay a loan, prosecutors said.
Anderson gave Ryan Jr. a card he used to swipe into work, allowing Ryan Jr. to complete his shifts, prosecutors said. The extra hours allowed Anderson to be paid overtime, prosecutors said.
Meanwhile, Ryan Jr. collected unemployment benefits - about $8,700 between February and October 2009 - while also holding two other jobs, the DA's office said.
As the supervisor of the dispatchers, Ryan Sr., 53, knew what happened and signed off on the false time sheets for two pay periods, prosecutors said.
Anderson cashed the first check, but the scam was uncovered in time to void the second check, the district attorney's office said. It was not clear how much the checks were for.
The state Department of Labor opened an investigation after its database noticed irregularities in the unemployment tax rolls, spokeswoman Jean Genovese said. It completed its investigation in March and referred the case to the Nassau district attorney.
Ryan Jr. was charged with second-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records. Both charges are felonies. He faces up to 7 years in prison and is next due in court Monday.
Ryan Sr. is charged with falsifying business records in the second degree, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail. Anderson is charged with petty larceny and also faces up to a year in jail. Both Ryan Sr. and Anderson are due back in court Tuesday.
Messages for Ryan Sr., Ryan Jr. and Anderson were not returned. Information about their attorneys was not available.
Farmingdale Mayor George Starkie said in an e-mail that he would make a statement when the village's board of trustees meets Monday night.
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