Westchester Trash-Hauler Accused Again of Larceny, Fraud

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — Stephen DiSalvo, former head of one of Westchester County's biggest trash haulers, was arraigned Friday on a 40-count indictment stemming from an ongoing investigation into fraud and theft.

Prosecutors say their investigations since filing initial charges in November 2015 — when they accused DiSalvo and two helpers of altering dump tickets to show that they had hauled more garbage than they really had so that they were paid based on the higher tonnage — uncovered more fraud. Last year, they estimated the theft of more than $500,000. Now they allege the ill-gotten gains topped $2 million.

These charges have to do with the trash hauling business of Briarcliff Manor-based A.T.N.M. Corp. and are an outgrowth of last year's indictment.

They're separate from the charge DiSalvo faced in 2000, when he was convicted of grand larceny in the second degree in connection with Briarcliff-based A&S DiSalvo Carting. As a result of that conviction, DiSalvo lost his Westchester County solid waste hauling license in 2003.

Two of his alleged co-conspirators at A.T.N.M. have already pleaded guilty to connected charges, according to Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty.

Friday, DiSalvo, of the 1500 block of John Anderson Drive, Ormond Beach, Florida was charged with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,
• three counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, class “C” Felonies,
• 19 counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies,
• three counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, class “E” Felonies,
• one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony and
• four counts of Petit Larceny, class “A” Misdemeanors.

DiSalvo, Christopher C. Leggio, Christopher E. Leggio and A.T.N.M. Corp. were charged in Briarcliff Manor Village Court Nov. 24, 2015, with grand larceny in the second degree.

At their arraignment, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office alleged that between 2013 and 2015, the Westchester County waste hauler systematically altered several hundred dump tickets so as to fraudulently reflect a higher tonnage of solid waste being transported. These false dump tickets, attached to A.T.N.M. invoices, were submitted to a solid waste hauling broker for payment. As a result of this scam, the broker, relying on the fraudulently altered dump tickets, paid more than $1 million to the defendants.

Since then, further investigation revealed that the trio had in fact been stealing from several A.T.N.M. customers since at least January 2010, prosecutors said.

DiSalvo is alleged to have participated in falsifying, forging and altering more than 3,000 dump tickets issued from at least six different weigh stations in and around Westchester County, leading to the larceny of more than $2 million from about 20 victims.

Since they were arrested in 2015, Christopher E. Leggio, 21, has pleaded guilty to scheme to defraud in the second degree and faces a maximum of one year in jail when he is sentenced. Christopher C. Leggio, 57, has pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the first degree and faces a maximum of eight and a third to 25 years of imprisonment when he is sentenced. Christopher C. Leggio, on behalf of A.T.N.M., also pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the second degree. Both are Brewster, New York, residents.

Friday, DiSalvo was arraigned on the indictment charging him with 40 counts of various fraud and theft-related offenses connected to A.T.N.M. He pleaded not guilty. Bail remains at $50,000. He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 21.

Because of his prior conviction, DiSalvo faces a minimum of four and a half to nine years and a maximum of 12.5 to 25 years in prison if found guilty.

This case is being handled by the Investigations Division of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Abinanti and Robert Mayes are in charge of the prosecution.

SEE: Westchester Trash-Hauler Accused of Larceny, Fraud