DA: Oceanside Gym Owner Gets Prison Time for Stealing from Clients

The owner of an Oceanside kickboxing gym was sentenced Friday to serve prison time and pay back clients whose accounts he used to buy home repair equipment, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Thomas Donovan, 39, of Island Park, was sentenced to three years behind bars and three years of post-release supervision by Supreme Court Justice Jerald Carter, the DA said. Donovan was also ordered to pay full restitution of $17,719 to The Home Depot and $690.50 to Cousins Metal Industries, Inc.

Donovan pleaded guilty in February to third-degree grand larceny, officials said.

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“With this sentence, Mr. Donovan will be held accountable for abusing the trust of his customers by using their personal financial information to steal,” Acting DA Madeline Singas said in a statement Friday. “My office will continue our efforts to combat this growing sector of financial crime to protect consumers and businesses.”

Nassau County Police said Donovan took credit card account information from his clients at 5 Star Boxing and used it to buy more than $30,000 of merchandise, Nassau County Police said. He and an unnamed accomplice crossed Nassau and Suffolk Counties making purchases in November and December, police said.

According to the DA, his accomplice would bring items to the Pro Desk at Home Depot and give employees a fake name and number of a contractor. The employees would then call the number and Donovan would answer, give them credit card information, and complete the purchase, the DA said.

Police executed a search warrant at Donovan’s Island Park home and found an loaded .25 caliber pistol that had been defaced, officials said. For this, Donovan also pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon in February.

Officials are asking anyone who may have been victimized by Donovan at either 5 Star Boxing, previously called KOXO Kickboxing, to call the DA’s tipline at 516-571-7755.

Photo: Thomas Donovan. Credit: NCPD

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