Suffolk Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $220K from Garden City Employer

Peterson added extra zero to company’s invoices; now facing 15 years

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced that Peter Peterson has pleaded guilty in Nassau County court to multiple felonies after bilking his employer, a Garden City fire protection company, out of more than $228,000.

Peterson, 54, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty May 7 to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree before Nassau County Judge Edward Maron. Peterson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and has agreed to pay full restitution as a condition of his guilty plea. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 22.

Peterson was employed as an engineer for Sirina Fire Protection Services in Garden City. Peterson would review the building plans of Sirina’s clients and formulate estimates for the installation of fire extinguishing systems. Beyond his regular duties, Peterson also ran his own consulting firm, PRP Consulting, and was able to submit invoices for his consulting services regarding material and labor estimates to Sirina, said Rice.

From Jan. 1, 2005 to Aug. 1, 2007, Peterson submitted forged invoices on behalf of PRP Consulting totaling $253,950. Only $25,395 of this was authorized by Sirina, and Peterson kept the remaining $228,555. Rice said that after invoices were approved by Sirina, Peterson would add an extra zero to the payment. Sirina officials discovered the discrepancy during an internal audit in July 2007.

“Instead of facing trial, Mr. Peterson admitted that he took advantage of his employer and will now face the consequences of those actions,” Rice said. “Not only does he face the possibility of years in prison, but he will be forced to pay back every cent he took.”  Of the method Peterson used to siphon the money, Rice said, “some embezzlement schemes are sophisticated; this was certainly not one of them.”

Deputy Bureau Chief William J. Wallace of the DA’s Government & Consumer Frauds Bureau is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Peterson is being represented by Peter C. Stein, Esq.