THE NEW COMMUNITY JOURNAL
FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2014
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September 1, 2011 for stealing more than $26,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits between August 2005 and July 2009. Anzalone pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 5th Degree in November 2012 and was sentenced to a conditional discharge and restitution in the amount of $10,412.54. DA Rice said Anzalone claimed to earn between $15,000 and $17,800 as a self-employed house cleaner. In fact, Anzalone’s undisclosed bank records reveal annual deposits between $16,000 and $118,000 during the fraud period. · Rehman Aziz, 53, and Nighat Aziz, 47, of Sea Cliff, were arrested in September 2011 for stealing more than $96,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits. Rehman Aziz pleaded guilty in March 2012 to Welfare Fraud in the 3rd Degree and sentenced in May 2012 to five years’ probation, 210 hours of community service, and restitution in the amount of $96,540. Nighat Aziz pleaded guilty in March 2012 to Welfare Fraud in the 5th Degree and sentenced to a conditional discharge. DA Rice said that between June 2004 and September 2010, the defendants stole more than $96,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits by claiming a weekly income ranging between $325 and $525. In reality, they own their own business and home, and have a yearly income between $56,000 and $116,000. · Rizwan Basit, 35, and Shamama Shamin, 30, of Valley Stream, were arrested on September 21, 2011 for stealing more than $16,000 in underserved Medicaid benefits. Rizwan Basit pleaded guilty to Disorderly Conduct in April 2012 and was sentenced to a conditional discharge, 210 hours of community service, a fine of $500, and restitution in the amount of $8,000. Shamama Shamin pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 4th Degree in April 2012 and sentenced to a conditional discharge and restitution in the amount of $8,457. DA Rice said that between April 2007 and December 2010, the defendants stole more than $16,000 in underserved Medicaid benefits by failing to disclose the ownership of two Cold Stone Creamery locations, two Mercedes-Benzes, and annual bank deposits between $140,000 and $193,000 during the fraud period. · Dennis Melandro, 39, of Hicksville, was arrested on September 28, 2011 for stealing more than $11,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits. Melandro pleaded guilty to Disorderly Conduct and sentenced to a conditional discharge, 70 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $11,587. DA Rice said that between April 2009 and May 2010, Melandro stole more than $11,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits by failing to disclose his employment and income. The investigation revealed that Melandro is a licensed real estate agent, operated his own business, Disasterpro, and had deposits into his bank accounts between $158,000 and $738,000 during the fraud period. · Laurie Morales, 44, of Freeport, was arrested on September 14, 2011 for stealing more than $162,000 in undeserved Medicaid, Food Stamp, and Day Care benefits. Morales pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 2nd Degree in January 2013 and sentenced in June 2013 to 5 years’ probation, 210 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $162,474.45. DA Rice said that between NASSAU COUNTY EDITION
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January 1997 and January 2011, Morales stole more than $162,000 in undeserved Medicaid, Food Stamp, and Day Care benefits by failing to disclose her actual income, the ownership of her home, and the presence of her husband in the household. From 2004 through 2010, Morales claimed to earn between $200 and $250 per week. In reality, Morales had annual bank deposits between $56,000 and $70,000. · Tahira Mundiya, 47, of Farmingdale, was arrested on September 14, 2011 for stealing more than $62,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits. Mundiya pleaded guilty to Welfare Fraud in the 3rd Degree in May 2012 and sentenced in July 2012 to five years’ probation, 210 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $62,728. DA Rice said that between September 2001 and June 2010, Mundiya stole more than $62,000 in undeserved Medicaid benefits by failing to disclose the ownership of a second home with rental income and a gas station. Assistant District Attorneys Christine Burke, Chief of DA Rice’s Public Assistance Fraud Unit, and Brian Heid of DA Rice’s Economic Crimes Bureau, are prosecuting the cases.
Bookkeeper Sentenced for Stealing More than $866K from Nassau County Architectural Firm Lori Maceluch, 48, of Huntington, forged more than 500 checks, spending cash on vacations, shopping and restaurants MINEOLA, N.Y. –Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Huntington woman has been sentenced for using her position as a bookkeeper to steal more than $866,000 over a six-year period from a Nassau County architectural firm. Lori Maceluch, 48, pleaded guilty in January 2014 to one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd Degree (a D felony). Maceluch was sentenced today by Nassau County Court Judge Alan Honorof to 3 to 9 years in prison on the top charge and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $866,114.18. She was also sentenced to 2 to 6 years for each count on the Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument charge, which will be served concurrently to the top charge. “By committing these crimes, Ms. Maceluch brazenly abused her employer’s trust while treating herself to vacations, clothes, and meals – all on the company’s dime,” DA Rice said. “Today’s sentence is a reminder that those who deceive and steal money from their employer will face consequences for their actions.” DA Rice said that between May 2005 and September 2011, Maceluch used her position as bookkeeper for a Nassau County-based architectural firm to steal $866,114.18 by (Continued on page 31)
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