Long Beach councilman Fagen expected to stand trial next month

Long Beach City Councilman Michael Fagen is expected to stand trial for larceny next month, a spokesman for the Nassau District Attorney’s Office said.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 7, and the trial could begin shortly thereafter, the spokesman said.

Fagen is accused of illegally collecting more than $14,000 in unemployment benefits. He hid his government job from the state to collect unemployment benefits, prosecutors have said.

Fagen pleaded not guilty after a February indictment on felony charges of third-degree grand larceny, petty larceny and 38 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

The councilman was originally expected to stand trial in September, but delays pushed back the beginning of the trial, the spokesman said.