Retired fire dispatcher sentenced in scam

Retired fire dispatcher George William Gray, 68, who served the Glen Cove Fire Department for 44 years, was sentenced Friday to 1 to 3 years in jail for stealing more than $196,000 from the department's general fund, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said.

Gray, now of Hendersonville, N.C., retired in March 2009 after working for Glen Cove for 34 years as the fire dispatcher -- about 20 years as the chairman of the fund drive.

Rice said that during a six-year period, Gray forged the signature of the department treasurer on more than 100 checks for model railroad equipment, high-priced cigars and gambling debts. He was arrested Sept. 28. Mayor Ralph Suozzi called Gray's actions a breach of trust.

"The years of deceiving and stealing from the Glen Cove Fire Department caught up with this defendant, and he will now pay the price," Rice said. "Gray not only preyed on the generosity of Glen Cove residents who donated to the fire department, but he betrayed the trust of his colleagues."

Rice said the money was stolen between May 10, 2003, and March 6, 2009. In all, Rice said Gray wrote more than 300 checks payable to cash to himself and credit card accounts.

After his arrest, Gray was charged with second-degree grand larceny and 104 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged incident, in addition to other charges.

He had been free on $50,000 bond or $10,000 cash bail.

Judge Jerald Carter also sentenced Gray to make restitution through a civil judgment.