JACKSON – A Jackson resident will serve between two and six years in prison after a Long Island, N.Y., judge sentenced him for the theft of approximately $1.6 million from the Bellmore-Merrick EMS organization.
Brad Reiter, 50, was arrested by Nassau County detectives in September 2015. He pleaded guilty to charges of grand larceny in April and agreed to a restitution agreement with the EMS squad. Reiter is a former treasurer and president of the Nassau County organization.
In Jackson, Reiter is a former fire commissioner in Fire District No. 3.
According to Nassau County law enforcement officials, the thefts from the Bellmore-Merrick EMS took place between early 2008 and March 2015. Reiter then allegedly used the stolen funds to pay for personal expenses.
Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said the prison sentence served as a strong message that similar actions would be met with severe consequences.
“EMS volunteers selflessly provide lifesaving medical care to Nassau residents every day,” Singas said. “As a leader of the organization, this defendant knew the importance of these critical resources to the safety and health of our communities, but outrageously, he stole more than $1.6 million from EMS coffers.”
Reiter had served with the EMS unit since 1997 and continued to do so after relocating to Jackson in recent years. The squad’s members are not required to live on Long Island. Reiter was eventually fired from the organization.
Published reports indicated that Reiter apologized in court for his actions.
In Jackson, Reiter was elected as a fire commissioner in Fire District No. 3 in February 2014. He resigned from his position on Oct. 19, 2015. According to an audit conducted earlier this year, the fire district’s financial statements between March 7, 2014 and Oct. 5, 2015 showed no signs of fraudulent activity.
Fire District No. 3 covers the northeast portion of Jackson and is served by Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.
