Cop: West Hempstead man stole $3,500 in property-tax scam

A West Hempstead man faces a grand larceny charge for allegedly depositing a customer's $3,500 check into his own account for his personal use, Nassau County police said Thursday.

Patrick Uzoefune, 55, of 130 Hempstead Ave., told his victim, a man, 47, he was a manager for a Hempstead energy company and could assist with the removal of property tax penalties, police said in a news release.

Detectives said Uzoefune dealt with the victim from June 2013 to August 20, 2013, and "engaged in a course of conduct convincing the victim that he could assist with the removal of property tax penalties."

Uzoefune deposited one of three checks from the victim into his personal account, police said.

He was arrested Wednesday during an interview with police on a charge of third-degree grand larceny.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead.