The former financial director of the Suffolk County chapter of the Red Cross was arrested and charged with grand larceny on Tuesday.
Deborah Leggio, 47, pleaded not guilty in California courts to second-degree grand larceny for allegedly embezzling nearly $275,000 from the Red Cross, according to District Attorney Thomas Spota.
Leggio faces the charges stemming from an investigation that claims from August 2005 to November 2009, she used the company’s debit card issued in her name to make ATM cash withdrawals amounting to $274,301. She had worked for the Suffolk County chapter for approximately seven and a half years, starting in 2002.
Leggio currently lives in Tracy, Calif. Judge Gary Weber set her cash bail at $17,500, or $35,000 bond.
Suffolk Cops Honored For 2010 DWI Arrests
Suffolk County officials honored the top 25 police officers Tuesday for their efforts to keep drunk drivers off county roadways in 2010.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer presented Timothy Murphy, of Riverhead Town Police Department, with a proclamation and glass award for the most DWI arrests, 86 in 2010, during an award ceremony at the H. Lee Dennison building in Hauppauge.
“Drunk driving is one of the deadliest crimes someone can commit,” Dormer said in a press statement. “Law enforcement officers are the front line defense between the public and drunk drivers. Each time a police officer stops and arrests a drunk driver; the officer is preventing that person from causing injury or death to themselves or another.”
Suffolk County Police Officers honored also include Derrick Hall (First Precinct), James Berby and Ruboert Lubanski (Second Precinct), Ari Hirsch (Third Precinct), Douglas Nassisi (Fourth Precinct), Timothy Vicinanza (Fifth Precinct), John Bokinz (Sixth Precinct), Brandon Neal (Seventh Precinct), Patrol Special Operations Team Officer Jeffrey Pitkewicz and Selective Alcohol Fatality Enforcement Team) Officer Robert Mudzinski.
Other police officers honored include: Amityville Village Police Officer David Smith, Northport Village Police Officer Alan Bakker, Quogue Village Police Officer John Galvin, Sag Harbor Village Police Officer Thomas Pagano, Southampton Village Police Officer Ashley Jones, Westhampton Beach Village Police Officer Steven McManus, East Hampton Town Police Officer Vincent Rantinella, Town of Shelter Island Police Officer Christopher Drake, Town of Southampton Police Officer Joseph D’Arce, Town of Southold Police Officer Steven Zuhoski, Suffolk County Parks Police Officer Gregory Sandbichler, New York State Parks Police Officer Justin Puckett, New York State Trooper Michael Mangano and Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff Robert Rilling.
Info Sessions Scheduled For Upcoming June Suffolk County Police Exam
Suffolk County Police Department will be holding nine information sessions through out March. Representatives will be on hand to discuss with applicants the process of becoming a police officer.
The planned information sessions are:
- Feb 28, 7 p.m. – Brentwood Public Library, 34 2nd Ave., Brentwood
- March 2, 7 p.m. – Huntington Public Library, 338 Main St., Huntington
- March 7, 7 p.m. – Central Islip Library, 33 Hawthorne Ave, Central Islip
- March7, 7 p.m. – Smithtown Public Library, 1 N. County Road, Smithtown
- March 10, 7 p.m.- Lindenhurst Memorial Library, 1 Lee Ave.
- March 14, 7 p.m. – Briarcliffe College, 225 W. Main St., Patchogue
- March 16, 7 p.m. – Riverhead Public Library, 330 Court St., Riverhead
- March 17, 7 p.m. – Brentwood Public Library, 34 2nd Ave., Brentwood
- March 23, 7 p.m. – South Huntington Public Library, 145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington
There is a March 31 deadline to register to take the June 11 written examination. To apply for the exam visit: www.joinscpd.com.
