DA: Ex-Town Employee Lied About Felony in Job Application

A former Town of North Hempstead worker lied about an earlier federal conviction on his employment applications, officials said.

Edward Lucas, 59, of Great Neck, was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of offering a false instrument in the first degree, according to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.

“All employers – including those in the public sector – should be able to expect that job applicants be truthful, particularly regarding whether or not they have been convicted of a crime,” DA Rice said, in a statement.

“Job seekers who think that telling the truth on an employment application is optional are sorely mistaken and I thank the Town of North Hempstead for assisting in this investigation.”

Rice said that Lucas filed three separate applications with the Town of North Hempstead, where under penalties of perjury, he swore to the truth of his written statements. According to the DA, on all three of the applications, Lucas checked the “No” box to the question, “Except for the above traffic offense have you ever been convicted of any violation, misdemeanor, or felony?”

Lucas did not reveal a 2005 federal felony conviction on the three applications dated May 5, 2009, Sept. 10, 2012; and Jan. 9, 2013, the DA said.  Court records showed that "Lucas participated in a scheme whereby he falsely overbilled clients of Lucas' hand-assembly and third-party mailing company, A.P.A.C. Inc., for postage and other services which were not rendered," Newsday reported.

The Town of North Hempstead hired Lucas in the summer 2009, first as a part-time attendant and later as a full-time parking meter servicer who was responsible, in part, for handling revenue for the Port Washington Parking District.

The falsification of Lucas’ employment applications was uncovered by DA investigators after Town of North Hempstead officials contacted the DA Rice’s Public Corruption Bureau.

“Rooting out public corruption is a team effort,” North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said.  “I am confident that District Attorney Rice’s office will prosecute this case to the full extent the law allows.”

Bail was set at $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash on one count, and $1,000 cash or bond on each of the remaining counts. 

If convicted, he faces up to two to four years in jail. 

Lucas was represented by Aaron Cohen at arraignment, and is due back in court on April 1.