Audit Reveals 6-Year Embezzlement Scheme

A former Glen Cove (NY) fire dispatcher who spent 34 years at the console has been arrested and charged with 104 counts related to forging checks and embezzling $196,000 from the fire department’s charitable fund. George W. Gray, 68, was arrested in North Carolina, where he moved after retirement last year. He was also a firefighter at Glen Cove FD for 44 years. According to the Nassau County prosecutor, Gray was in charge of the charity fund, and managed donations from the public for various fire department projects. Between 2002 and 2009 Gray allegedly wrote 300 checks to himself, court documents state, and used the money to pay off credit cards, buy model railroad gear and expensive cigars. About 100 of the checks were written with the forged signature of the fire department’s treasurer, the prosecutor says. After Gray retired, a department audit of the fund discovered the thefts of money. Gray appeared in court today on grand larceny, forgery and official misconduct charges. He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court next week. Update: In Jan. 2011 Gray pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny, and in mid-March 2011 Gray was sentenced to from one to three years in jail. He was also ordered to repay the money that he stole.