NYC Man Indicted on Grand Larceny Charge

D.A. refuses to plea bargain with Shamapande, grand jury indicts ex-county employee

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a grand jury has indicted Shomwa Shamapande, 32, on one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, and six counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E Felony.  Mr. Shamapande was charged in August after an investigation revealed serious inconsistencies in the defendant’s time sheets and the time the defendant was actually at work for the Nassau County Parks Department.

“My administration has refused to plea bargain with Mr. Shamapande from day one,” said Rice.  “When you steal money from the taxpayers, you can expect to be dealt with in a similar fashion.”

The indictment alleges the defendant intentionally falsified time sheets for his work at the Nassau County Parks Department, where he was a “seasonal clerk”, resulting in him being paid for more than $12,000 of unearned time.  Mr. Shamapande was a Nassau County employee from June of 2003 until June of last year.  He earned approximately $25 dollars per hour as a full-time county employee. 

Over the course of last summer’s investigation, questions were raised about possible improprieties involving other parks department employees. Robert Cataldo was charged in August with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E Felony.  In December, The Dillon administration dropped the felony charge against Mr. Cataldo in exchange for his pleading guilty to a violation and paying a $250 fine.

ADAs Marshall Trager and Christine Sullivan are handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Shamapande is being represented by Domenick Porco.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Name: Shomwa Shamapande
Age: 32
Address: 3161 Broadway, New York, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°