Latest news with #MichaelLucchesi
New York Times
4 days ago
- New York Times
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.
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
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.
ABC News
25-07-2025
- ABC News
West Australian farmers launch relief convoy for drought-stricken South Australia
It has been dubbed the "convoy of compassion". Eighty-five trucks, loaded with more than 6,000 bales of hay and straw, have begun the trek across the Nullarbor, headed to drought-stricken parts of South Australia. The massive logistical exercise is a project between charities Farmers Across Borders and Need for Feed, with support from the South Australian government. The fodder has been sent to support 400 farming businesses and feed 450,000 head of stock. The trucks have been loaded across Western Australia's agricultural heartland over the past seven days. At Kulin, 300 kilometres east of Perth, farmer Michael Lucchesi said the 1,000 bales coming from his property were good quality. "It's export quality. It was some of the first stuff we bailed last year and we got a bit more than what we needed," he said. "We got a phone call and it was available and I thought, 'Well, might as well give it to someone that needs it.'" It was the first time Mr Lucchesi had been involved in a hay run but he said it was something close to his heart. "We've been there, probably 15 years ago," he said. Co-ordinating more than 80 trucks, obtaining permits across two states, and ensuring the convoy could travel along one of Australia's major national highways without disruption has been a feat of organisation by truck driver Peter Warburton. While it had been trying at times, Mr Warburton said knowing the difference the fodder would make on the ground made it worthwhile. "Logistically, we've been probably five weeks in doing this," he said. "I did the main roads permits here in West Australia and then permits in SA. Rob Gill, from Narembeen, has also donated his time to drive a truck in the convoy. He said keeping everyone on the road safe was a top priority. "Going over there's up to 90 trucks," he said. "They'll put them in groups of 20 or 21, thereabouts, so there's not 80 or 90 trucks all in one [group]," he said. "[The safety considerations are] especially for people with cars when they're trying to pass." The charities involved have also reached out on social media to other groups of road users to alert them of the convoy and instruct them of the signage and communication plans they have in place to ensure road safety. The convoy is a financial feat as well — with trucks to run, fuel to pay for, mouths to feed, and accommodation to book. Justin Williams has taken time off work to be involved. "I thought I'd just get a little gap to come help out," he said. "The first few times I missed it, but this time around I got a chance so I thought I'd jump on it, just be a part of it." Fellow volunteer Michael Young said seeing the impact of the drought firsthand made him keen to help. "A friend of mine that's been on the run a couple of times rang me and I said, 'We're straight in,'" he said. "It will be just nice to help out and do our little bit for our fellow farmers." Farmers Across Borders president Sam Starcevich said she had lost count of how many hay runs she had done since becoming involved in 2014. She said the convoy was her third trip "across the paddock" to do a hay run over the Western Australian border. Recently relaxed biosecurity laws in South Australia have enabled other states, including Western Australia, to export hay from green snail-free areas. "It's well and truly over half-a-million-dollars worth of hay, and then the fuel is probably three times, four times that amount," Ms Starcevich said. The impressive trip has been met with one further hurdle at the last stop in Fraser Range before making the journey across the border. Damaging winds reached 100 kilometres per hour as a storm rolled across southern parts of the state, delaying the convoy's plan to leave in the early hours of Friday. Nonetheless, Ms Starcevich hoped they would be able to get to farmers by Sunday. "It's crazy weather isn't it," she said. Despite the massive undertaking, Need for Feed chairman Graham Cockerell said the convoy still would not meet all requests for assistance the organisation had received. The charity had been sourcing hay from across the country, going as far as northern New South Wales to provide relief to the most drought-stricken parts of South Australia. "We've got about 450 [requests], and this will get to about 300," he said. "We know people who have de-stocked to a large extent, and they're pretty desperate trying to hang onto their breeding stock.
