Jackson fire commissioner faces theft charge in NY

A commissioner in Jackson's Fire District 3 reportedly faces felony charges in New York connected to the theft of more than a million dollars from a Long Island emergency medical squad.

Brad Reiter, 50, is charged with a first-degree count of grand larceny connected to the theft of about $1,600,000 from the Bellmore-Merrick Volunteer EMS, according to information from the office of Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

If convicted, he would risk a prison term of eight to 25 years.

Sources in Jackson informed WOBM News that Reiter lived on Long Island before moving to Jackson several years ago. According to information from Singas's office, he served as treasurer and president of the Bellmore-Merrick squad at various times during the seven years involved in the probe, from March 2008 until March 2015.

Investigators say the matter came to light when new EMS leaders who assumed their offices in January began combing financial records in preparation for an annual report.

Reiter is accused of grossly under-reporting insurance payments for ambulance services. Squad officials verified the discrepancies and accused Reiter of writing checks to himself with no apparent justification, authorities said.

Investigators contend that Reiter skimmed the money to pay credit card debts, insurance bills, and invoices for lawn care and security systems, in addition to cashing checks to himself. Reiter was terminated from the squad in March, authorities said.

At issue now in Jackson is his status on the Board of Fire Commissioners in District 3, an elected position. It also remains to be seen how a volunteer first-responder can effectively function simultaneously in towns that are more than 100 miles apart. Calls to the fire district offices so far have gone unreturned.

"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,” Acting DA Singas said in a prepared 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.”