DA: Man Stole $1.6 Million From Bellmore-Merrick EMS

A New Jersey man stole approximately $1.6 million from the Bellmore-Merrick EMS over a seven-year period while serving as treasurer and president of the nonprofit organization at various times, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said Tuesday.

Brad Reiter, 50, of Jackson, N.J., was arrested by DA investigators Tuesday morning and charged with one count of first degree grand larceny.

Reiter allegedly stole the money between March 2008 and March of this year. He spent the money on credit card and insurance bills, lawn services, security system services and payments to himself, Singas said.

“The volunteers of the Bellmore-Merrick EMS donate their time and skills to offer lifesaving care to their neighbors, and this defendant allegedly stole a staggering $1.6 million that should have gone to support their critically important work,” Singas said in a statement. “I’m grateful that EMS leaders brought this case to my office so that we can hold this defendant accountable for this selfish crime that betrayed the trust of so many.”

The theft was uncovered after new leadership installed at the EMS last January began examining past bank accounts to prepare an annual report, Singas said.

EMS officials found that the amount of money that Reiter reported as having received from insurance companies to pay for ambulance services was far less than the amount that the EMS should have been receiving, Singas said.

EMS officials were able to verify that much more money should have been deposited into the organization’s account by Reiter and they discovered that Reiter had written checks to himself for which there was no explanation, Singas said.

“We are stunned by this betrayal of trust that was uncovered by our organization,” the Bellmore-Merrick EMS said in a statement released Tuesday. “We appreciate the DA’s work to bring him to justice.”

Reiter was terminated by the EMS in March and the case was then referred to the District Attorney’s Office for further investigation.

Reiter was due to be arraigned in Nassau County District Court in Hempstead later Tuesday. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

The Bellmore-Merrick EMS has been serving residents of Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Merrick and parts of East Meadow for over 40 years.

Below is the full statement from the Bellmore-Merrick EMS regarding Reiter’s arrest:

We are stunned by this betrayal of trust that was uncovered by our organization. We appreciate the DA’s work to bring him to justice.

Despite the arrest announced today by the Nassau County District Attorney, Bellmore Merrick EMS has continued to operate on a solid financial footing and make improvements and capital purchases. Our standard of care and ability to serve the community has not been diminished.

Shortly after our leadership discovered that our financial procedures had been circumvented, we contacted the Nassau DA’s Office, with which we have cooperated throughout the investigation. Because BMEMS is a private volunteer ambulance company and is not tax-supported, no taxpayer dollars were stolen; the missing funds were mainly payments from insurance companies to BMEMS for its services.

While we are seeking full restitution, we have already recovered a portion of the missing funds. In fact, we are already a financially healthier organization as we get past this issue. Our new board of directors has instituted a series of financial safeguards and increased oversight, including a new billing company, new accounting and auditing procedures, new controls on writing checks and others. We have “cleaned house” of all vendors related to our financial operations.

BMEMS, which responds to about 800 emergency calls annually, continues to distinguish itself: for example, recently we had our first “nasal Narcan save” when members revived a patient who was unresponsive. This month we are putting into service a full rehab Instant Response Unit, one of only four such vehicles in the county, to support firefighting operations in our communities.