Guldi insurance fraud case goes to jury

Jurors in the George Guldi insurance fraud trial on Tuesday asked to rehear testimony from a key defense witness and to see a photocopy of a check deposited into the former Suffolk County legislator's bank account.

After deliberating nearly four hours in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, jurors asked to see numerous pieces of evidence and to hear read-back of testimony from several witnesses.

Among the witnesses whose testimony was requested by jurors was Dustin Dente, a former business partner of Guldi's. Guldi had testified that he gave a disputed insurance check to Dente or one of Dente's employees. Dente had testified as a witness for Guldi.

Guldi is defending himself against a four-count indictment charging him with grand larceny, insurance fraud, forgery and possession of a forged instrument. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison. He testified last week that he did not know who deposited the insurance check into his account at a Manhattan bank. Guldi argued that the check belonged only to him and said he was in Vermont when the check was deposited in a Manhattan bank.

Jurors also asked to hear testimony from an insurance adjuster and an attorney representing insurance giant AIG, which had provided an insurance policy on a house Guldi owned in Westhampton Beach. Prosecutors say the insurance fraud was precipitated by a fire that destroyed the house in November 2008.

Among the physical evidence jurors asked to see were photocopies of the insurance check showing Guldi's signature and what prosecutors say is Guldi's forgery of a lending institution's endorsement.

Jurors also asked County Court Judge James F.X. Doyle to read legal definitions of some of the charges against Guldi.

SEE PHOTOSGeorge Guldi

The jury began deliberating earlier Tuesday, receiving the case shortly after 11 a.m. after hearing final instructions from Doyle.

Jurors heard testimony over four weeks from more than a dozen witnesses, including Guldi, who testified last Thursday and Friday.

Prosecutors allege he forged the endorsement of a mortgage lender on an $863,000 insurance check made out to both him and the lender after a November 2008 fire that destroyed Guldi's Westhampton Beach home. Prosecutors say the check required two signatures because Guldi owed money to the lender.

Guldi also faces a later trial on charges he played a role in what prosecutors say was an $82-million mortgage fraud scheme.

He served in the county legislature from 1993 to 2003.