A former landscape contractor for the New York Power Authority was arrested this week for allegedly forging more than $200,000 in checks, according to Acting New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. Three of the counterfeit checks, which totaled more than $122,000, were created to appear as if NYPA had issued them.
Nicholas Analitis, 35, of Brentwood, Suffolk County, was charged with two countys of third-degree grand larceny, a D felony, and seven counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, also a D felony. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Scott launched the investigation after being notified by NYPA that its check verification system had identified an attempt to steal authority funds. Analitis allegedly presented the forged checks at a number of financial institutions seeking payment. He allegedly forged more than $84,000 in checks from private companies he worked with and used someone else’s credit card to buy more than $4,900 in jewelry.
“Stealing funds from the State and taxpayers will not be tolerated. Any individual engaging in such activity will be vigorously pursued,” Scott said in a statement. “My office conducted a swift and thorough investigation, which culminated in this arrest. I want to thank District Attorney Rice and her office for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.”
Analitis is currently incarcerated and is awaiting sentencing in Nassau County on a separate criminal case. He operated Prestige Builder & Management LLC. Two years ago, the company contracted with NYPA to perform more than $140,000 in sidewalk repair and landscaping services at one of its facilities. The authority terminated the contract last year for poor performance.
