Larceny charges against East Islip activist dropped

The Suffolk County district attorney's office Tuesday dropped its grand larceny case against an East Islip activist who had been accused of stealing from the real estate business where she worked.

Patricia Montanino, 54, was charged in 2008 with second-degree grand larceny, a felony. She said the money was a loan from her boss, Brightwaters real estate developer Louis Modica.

Tuesday, District Court Judge Gae Lozito granted her attorney's motion to dismiss, with no objection from the prosecutor.

"There was no evidence she committed any crime," Montanino's attorney, Alfred Graf, of Patchogue, said Tuesday. "If the people thought they had a case, they would have put it in front of a grand jury. You stretch this out for close to three years, you've embarrassed her, she wanted her day in court."

Robert Clifford, spokesman for District Attorney Thomas Spota, said Modica "is unable to provide specific information about his business relationship and relevant transactions with the accused. Therefore, it is unlikely this case could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."

In 2005, Montanino was part of a civic group, Committee for Council Districts in Islip, that advocated unsuccessfully for the town to abolish at-large council elections. Modica joined the effort.

The following year, he hired Montanino as a bookkeeper.

Montanino said Modica approved a loan to her from company funds.

At the time she was charged, she said: "He paid a loan, and we paid him immediately back."

Clifford said Montanino had paid back $287,000 to Modica before criminal charges were filed.

With Carl MacGowan