Rockville Centre Man Charged With Stealing $429K From Company Where He Was CFO

Cortese used cash on girlfriends, trips, car payments

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a Rockville Centre man has been charged with stealing $429,000 from the company where he was employed as the chief financial officer after he used the cash to finance trips, car payments, thousands of dollars in gift cards, and payments to two girlfriends he had hired as consultants.

Christopher Cortese, 54, has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He is due back in court April 6.

Rice said that Cortese was employed by Kainos Partners Holding Company, LLC, a corporation that owns and operates Dunkin Donuts franchises, as its chief financial officer since May 2005. Kainos began investigating Cortese in January 2009 after discovering a number of financial irregularities, including $53,500 for a home office, $60,000 in gift cards, and more than $100,000 in trips, meals, and other expenses.

In addition, Cortese “hired” two girlfriends as consultants, funneling $110,000 to one woman for information technology services that were never performed. Cortese also used company funds to pay for the first car lease payment for a Mercedes Benz for the woman and secured company health and dental benefits for her, despite her not being a company employee. Another girlfriend received $20,000 for services never performed. Cortese was terminated by Kainos on February 4, 2009.

“The level of this defendant’s deception, arrogance and sheer greed is shocking,” Rice said. “He has proven himself to be no more than a common thief, and my office will continue to aggressively pursue those who abuse the trust of their employers to fatten their own wallets.”

Assistant District Attorney Megan Gallagher of the Government & Consumer Frauds Bureau is handling the case for the District Attorney's Office. Cortese is represented by Mel Ruskin, Esq.