Ex-Long Beach pol Michael Fagen hopes restitution earns leniency

Former Long Beach Councilman Michael Fagen is working on a restitution agreement to pay back the state for money he was convicted of stealing.

Fagen was convicted in February of petty larceny and 18 counts of offering a false instrument for filing. The conviction stemmed from his collection of more than $15,000 in unemployment benefits in 2010, while he served on the city council.

Fagen was scheduled for sentencing Thursday at State Supreme Court in Mineola. But his attorney, Marc Gann of Mineola, said he is working on a restitution agreement with Justice Meryl Berkowitz, and the sentencing was pushed back.

Fagen will return to court on May 20 to complete the restitution agreement, and the judge will assign a new sentencing date, Gann said.

Gann said he is hopeful restitution will persuade Berkowitz to issue a light sentence. Fagen faces up to 4 years in prison.

Long Beach removed Fagen from office after he was sentenced.