Mt. Sinai Contractor Stole $6.6K From Town Of Brookhaven: SCDA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A contractor allegedly falsified claim vouchers to improperly bill the Town of Brookhaven for more than $6,600 and was arrested, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini said Thursday.

Robert Heinrich, 65, of Mt. Sinai, was charged with third-degree grand larceny (a D felony) and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing (an E felony). If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum sentence of 2 1/3 to seven years in prison.

"This is another example of someone trying to swindle the hardworking taxpayers of Suffolk
County for their own gain," Sini said. "Thanks to the vigilance of the Town of Brookhaven, as well as the hard work of our investigators and prosecutors, he will be held accountable for his alleged theft of public funds."

Heinrich is the founder and CEO of Heinrich Equipment Co., Inc., a fueling and fluid management equipment company that had a contract to upgrade the vehicle fueling systems for the Town of Brookhaven, Sini said. In two separate claim vouchers in 2017 and 2018, Heinrich allegedly fraudulently asked for reimbursement for the rental cost of various items, including a dump truck and temporary fencing, that were either never used in the project or already owned by his company, Sini said. The improperly claimed funds totaled $6,647.58, Sini said.

"Let this be a warning to anyone who attempts to steal money from the Brookhaven taxpayers," Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine said. "It will not be tolerated, and you will be arrested, charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Heinrich was arraigned Thursday and released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on Dec. 3.