Former North Patchogue Fire District manager arraigned on grand larceny charges

A former manager of the North Patchogue Fire District was arraigned Wednesday on charges of using a district-issued credit card to buy clothes, sneakers and pay his personal cellphone bills, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

John Drews, 46, of Sound Beach pleaded not guilty and was released without bail at his arraignment on charges of third-degree grand larceny, Spota's office said in a news release. Spota said his office found evidence that Drews had used the fire district credit card to make more than $5,000 of illegitimate charges, including "apparel and sneakers."

As the district manager, Spota's office said, Drews supervised paid employees, maintained fire district property and purchased equipment for the district. He was hired in 2003 and resigned last December, the news release said.

The North Patchogue Fire District did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday night, and information about Drews' attorney was not available.