New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) announced that Gennady Galker pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree following an indictment that accused him of stealing checks totaling $31,149 from mailboxes in Brooklyn and using a false identity to cash them. His thefts included checks from the Jewish Communal Fund for local charities and from DiNapoli’s Office of Unclaimed Funds.
“Mr. Galker stole from Brooklynites in need of help,” DiNapoli said. “Thanks to my office’s partnership with District Attorney Gonzalez and the United States Postal Inspection Service justice has been served in this case.”
District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant stole checks from unsuspecting Brooklynites as well as local charities. Today’s plea holds him accountable for his crimes and sends a strong message that thefts like these will not be tolerated. I thank Comptroller DiNapoli’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service for their work on this case.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge of the New York Division Daniel B. Brubaker said, “This case underscores the power of our partnership with New York State Comptroller DiNapoli’s office and Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez in the fight against mail theft in Brooklyn. Mr. Galker preyed upon the people in his community, his neighbors, to enrich himself with their money. Postal Inspector’s mission is to protect the mail and members of the public, our customers, from becoming victims of fraud. We have carried out this mission for almost 250 years, and along with our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue mail thieves well into the future.”
Galker, 40, took the checks, which had been mailed to addresses around Midwood where he lived, deposited them using a stolen identity, then withdrew the cash and used it for personal expenses including food and shopping.
He entered a Conditional Plea to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree before Justice Danny Chun in Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term. As part of his plea Galker was ordered to perform 140 hours of community service and pay $16,891 in restitution, which was the amount banks were not able to recover. If he meets the terms of his Conditional Plea, his conviction will be reduced to Petit Larceny and he will receive a Conditional Discharge sentence. If he does not meet the conditions, his Grand Larceny conviction will stand and he will be sentenced to one year of jail. Galker is due back in court on November 1.
Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at https://www.osc.state.ny.us/investigations, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.