By EVAN NEMEROFF
The company, CBF Development Corp., was hired in January 2004, and was paid $750,000 by the hospital between Jan. 14, 2005, and June 28, 2005, for the work it performed, the materials and its subcontractors. Michael Brooks, 62, who runs the business which his wife owns, has been charged with two second-degree counts of grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud and first-degree falsifying of business records. He could face up to 15 years in prison.
"Mr. Brooks' theft is an outrageous violation of the law," Rice said. "Not only did he steal from the people he hired, but also from an organization whose sole purpose is to save lives and protect the sick and vulnerable."
This theft came to light in July 2005, when a subcontractor requested payment from the hospital for its work on the renovations. Hospital officials called other subcontractors that had been involved in the project, and discovered that some of them had not been paid.
"We appreciate the efforts of the Nassau County District Attorney's Office to see that justice is done," said Paul Barry, St. Francis's director of public affairs and marketing, "and we trust in our court system to see that a proper result is reached."
Philip Foglia, an attorney representing Brooks, disagrees with the classification of the case as criminal rather than civil because of the amount of money involved. "Mr. Brooks believes the case should be a civil and not a criminal case," Foglia said. "Brooks denies he did anything wrong and is looking forward to be exonerated of these charges."
Foglia claimed that there were problems from the outset of the project, and that after discussions with Brooks, the hospital decided that it would pay the subcontractors. "My client did not take any money from the hospital," Foglia said. "This is the second or third job that he has had with the hospital, and he has a good relationship with them."
Chris Munzing, deputy director of communications for the district attorney, explained why it took so long for the case to make it into the court system. "The reason why it took three years for the issue to be handled is because financial investigations are always time-consuming," Munzing said.
Brooks was arraigned on Sept. 26 at Nassau County Court in Hempstead.
Comments about this story? ENemeroff@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
