Community Corner
Guldi Gets up to 12 Years for Fraud, Larceny
Judge says he rarely sees such clear guilt, and blamed the disgraced former Suffolk legislator of showing no remorse.
Former Suffolk County Legislator George Guldi was sentenced Monday to three to nine years in prison for grand larceny and one to three years for insurance fraud.
The sentences will be served consecutively, meaning Guldi's prison time will be between four and 12 years. He may also have to pay $863,000 in restitution, but a restitution hearing is still pending.
Judge James F.X. Doyle said he rarely seen a case as clear as this one and that Guldi has shown no remorse. He also said that while some say white collar crime is not taken seriously, “I consider theft of $863,000 to be very serious business."
Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Guldi, who represented himself during the trial, fought charges that he forged the endorsement of Countrywide Home Loans on an $863,000 insurance check paid out by AIG after his Westhampton Beach home was ravaged by fire, and that he placed the proceeds into his own bank account. He was found of insurance fraud and second degree grand larceny on Feb. 16. The jury acquitted him on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and second-degree forgery.
Guldi's attorney during the sentencing, Leonard Lato of West Islip, said there was a rush to sentence Guldi following the verdict and he plans to file an appeal this week. He moved for a new trial during the sentencing as well, but was swiftly turned down.
Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Doyle granted an order of protection Monday for Bruce Schlosser, an insurance adjuster who testified against Guldi during the trial. According to a pre-sentencing report, Schlosser told a probation officer that he felt threatened by Guldi, calling him "Bernie Madoff with guns."
The former Democratic lawmaker has been held at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility awaiting sentencing. He was unable to make on Feb. 21 after Doyle more than doubled his bail, increasing the amount from $500,000 cash or $1 million bond to $1.1 million cash or $2.2 million bond. The judge said the spike was reasonable because Guldi was convicted of felony charges.
During the more than four-week trial, numerous witnesses testified, including high profile individuals such as , who are co-defendants with Guldi in a pending mortgage fraud case. Authorities say Guldi was a central figure in an $80 million mortgage stacking scheme.
No date has been set for the start of proceedings in that case, in which Guldi will face a laundry list of charges.
