Ex-pol Guldi: I did not forge check

Former Suffolk Legis. George Guldi took the stand in his own defense Wednesday in a Riverhead courtroom and said he did not forge a signature on an $853,000 check made out to him and his mortgage lender.

Guldi, who is charged with insurance fraud, said he was not in New York State when the check, which was made out to him and the lender, Countrywide, was deposited.

"I never, never forged Countrywide's endorsement to the check," said Guldi, who is representing himself. "I never deposited it into my account. At the time it was deposited in New York, I was in Vermont."

Guldi is accused of forging the lender's signature on an insurance check made out to both of them after his Westhampton Beach home burned in 2008. The check required endorsement from both parties. Guldi is accused of forging the mortgage lender's endorsement, according to court papers.

In addition to the insurance fraud charges, Guldi faces a later trial on what prosecutors have described as his involvement in an $82-million mortgage-fraud scheme.

Guldi took the stand near the end of the day Wednesday and is expected to continue his testimony today. He has said in court that he will be the last witness before he rests his case.

Wearing a tweed suit and a pink bow tie, Guldi said he was born in Westhampton Beach into what he called the "tourist service class," and worked hard to graduate from college, then law school. He said he is proud of who he became, and would never risk everything for money.

SEE PHOTOSGeorge Guldi

"The suggestion I'd do that is ludicrous," he said.