Town Employee Stole More Than 500 Gallons Of Diesel: DA

WADING RIVER, NY — A Wading River man and Brookhaven Town employee was arrested and charged with stealing more than 500 gallons of diesel fuel from town facilities since August, 2015, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Daniel Curtin, 50, was arrested Monday and charged with fourth degree grand larceny as a public corruption offense, a felony; fourth degree grand larceny, a felony; and official misconduct, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

“We will not tolerate the theft of public funds or government property for someone’s own personal use,” Sini said. “I thank the Town of Brookhaven for bringing this matter to my office’s attention and continuing to partner with us to protect taxpayers.”

Curtin, who is employed as a foreman for the Town of Brookhaven’s highway department, was issued a 2012 Ford pick-up truck by the town to be used for official business and to transport him to and from work, the DA said.

Curtin was permitted to obtain unleaded gasoline for the truck at various town fuel facilities; Curtin’s duties and responsibilities did not require any use of diesel fuel, Sini said.

Curtin is alleged to have stolen a total of 510.40 gallons of diesel fuel, which he was not permitted to take, from town facilities on 75 separate occasions between Aug. 8, 2015, and Jan. 2, 2019; the fuel had a total value of $1,023.50, Sini said.

The investigation revealed that Curtin was allegedly using the fuel for a heater in the garage of his house, Sini said.

The case was referred to Sini's office by Town of Brookhaven officials; Curtin has been an employee of the town for 29 years, Sini said.

If convicted of the top count, Curtin faces a maximum sentence of two and one-third to seven years in prison, Sini said.

Curtin was arraigned on the charges Monday by Suffolk County District Court Judge Gaetan B. Lozito and was released on his own recognizance; he is due back in court on June 18, Sini said.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Ward, of the Public Integrity Bureau.