Ex-top doc at SUNY hospital sentenced for stealing nearly $1.5 million to fund lavish lifestyle
Dr. Michael Lucchesi, 67, was sentenced to one to three years in prison in Brooklyn Supreme Court Wednesday after he admitted to stealing approximately $1.44 million from the hospital to make personal purchases for travel, his children's college tuition and a whopping $176,000 on pet care.
3 Dr. Michael Lucchesi was sentenced to one to three years in prison Wednesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
Gregory P. Mango
Lucchesi, of Staten Island, appeared in court in a disheveled blue sweatshirt and jeans — and declined to speak when given the opportunity before he was sentenced by Judge Danny Chun.
The former top medical doc, who was the Chairman of Emergency Medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, carried out his scheme between December 2016 and January 2023 by making personal purchases with a credit card meant to be used only for business purposes, according to Brooklyn prosecutors.
Lucchesi racked up charges on the business card by pampering his pooch, spending $176,000 on pet care — which included a $120,000 bill paid to The Greenleaf Pet Resort & Hotel in New Jersey, where amenities include private doggy swim lessons, according to court docs.
Prosectors say he also charged $348,000 to the company card to fund his personal travel — and spent $92,000 on sporting events, concerts and Broadway shows.
He even used the money to hit the gym, stealing $109,000 to pay for a New York Sports Club membership and personal training, according to prosecutors.
3 SUNY Downstate was robbed of nearly $1.5 million, the DA said.
William Miller
Lucchesi pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree grand larceny on June 13.
As part of the plea deal, Lucchesi also agreed to pay $720,000 in restitution, which included payments to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and Downstate Hospital.
'This defendant was entrusted with a leadership role at a critical Brooklyn medical institution and violated that trust by stealing nearly $1.5 million,' Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement.
3 As part of the plea deal, Michael Lucchesi also agreed to pay $720,000 in restitution.
Gregory P. Mango
He added: 'SUNY Downstate does vital, lifesaving work, and these stolen funds could have been used to support patient care and medical services. Instead, they were diverted for personal expenses over a period of years.'
Lucchesi's attorney, Earl Ward, said after the sentencing that Lucchesi will move past the conviction.
'The only thing I'll say is, the legacy of Dr. Lucchesi will be the 25 years of noble work for the Brooklyn community,' Ward said.
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New York Times
18 hours ago
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SUNY Downstate Hospital Official Sentenced for Stealing $1.4 Million
The former chairman of emergency medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $1.4 million of public money from the hospital and spending it on luxury goods for himself, his family and his pets. Dr. Michael Lucchesi, 67, stole the money over seven years from Downstate, which has been plagued by financial trouble for years, by using a work credit card for cash advances and lavish personal spending. About $348,000 of the purloined money went to personal travel, and $176,000 was spent on pet care, including $120,000 at the Greenleaf Pet Resort & Hotel in New Jersey, prosecutors said. Dr. Lucchesi used $109,000 of the hospital's money for personal training and gym memberships at New York Sports Club. Prosecutors said he spent $92,000 on tickets to sporting events, concerts and Broadway shows and $52,000 on catering. And $46,000 covered tuition payments for his children. Undisclosed amounts were spent on flowers, liquor, electronics and online shopping sprees. Dr. Lucchesi pleaded guilty to one count of larceny in June and was sentenced by Danny Chun, a justice of the State Supreme Court in Brooklyn, to three years in prison, and will be eligible for parole after one year. As part of his sentencing, Dr. Lucchesi has agreed to pay $720,000 in restitution to the state and the clinical practice at University Hospital at Downstate, a 342-bed institution that serves patients in a working-class but quickly gentrifying corner of Flatbush, Brooklyn. 'SUNY Downstate does vital, lifesaving work, and these stolen funds could have been used to support patient care and medical services,' the Brooklyn district attorney, Eric Gonzalez, said in a statement. 'Instead, they were diverted for personal expenses over a period of years. With today's sentence, the defendant is being held accountable for this serious breach of trust.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
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Ex-top doc at SUNY hospital sentenced for stealing nearly $1.5 million to fund lavish lifestyle
The former top doctor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center who stole nearly $1.5 million from the public hospital will spend up to three years in prison — after he was sentenced following his admission to using the stolen funds to fuel his extravagant lifestyle. Dr. Michael Lucchesi, 67, was sentenced to one to three years in prison in Brooklyn Supreme Court Wednesday after he admitted to stealing approximately $1.44 million from the hospital to make personal purchases for travel, his children's college tuition and a whopping $176,000 on pet care. 3 Dr. Michael Lucchesi was sentenced to one to three years in prison Wednesday in Brooklyn Supreme Court. Gregory P. Mango Lucchesi, of Staten Island, appeared in court in a disheveled blue sweatshirt and jeans — and declined to speak when given the opportunity before he was sentenced by Judge Danny Chun. The former top medical doc, who was the Chairman of Emergency Medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, carried out his scheme between December 2016 and January 2023 by making personal purchases with a credit card meant to be used only for business purposes, according to Brooklyn prosecutors. Lucchesi racked up charges on the business card by pampering his pooch, spending $176,000 on pet care — which included a $120,000 bill paid to The Greenleaf Pet Resort & Hotel in New Jersey, where amenities include private doggy swim lessons, according to court docs. Prosectors say he also charged $348,000 to the company card to fund his personal travel — and spent $92,000 on sporting events, concerts and Broadway shows. He even used the money to hit the gym, stealing $109,000 to pay for a New York Sports Club membership and personal training, according to prosecutors. 3 SUNY Downstate was robbed of nearly $1.5 million, the DA said. William Miller Lucchesi pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree grand larceny on June 13. As part of the plea deal, Lucchesi also agreed to pay $720,000 in restitution, which included payments to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and Downstate Hospital. 'This defendant was entrusted with a leadership role at a critical Brooklyn medical institution and violated that trust by stealing nearly $1.5 million,' Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. 3 As part of the plea deal, Michael Lucchesi also agreed to pay $720,000 in restitution. Gregory P. Mango He added: 'SUNY Downstate does vital, lifesaving work, and these stolen funds could have been used to support patient care and medical services. Instead, they were diverted for personal expenses over a period of years.' Lucchesi's attorney, Earl Ward, said after the sentencing that Lucchesi will move past the conviction. 'The only thing I'll say is, the legacy of Dr. Lucchesi will be the 25 years of noble work for the Brooklyn community,' Ward said.
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