EMT Daniel Dominguez Used More Than $300,000 Stolen From Nonprofit Volunteer Ambulance Corps For Personal Travel, Luxury Car Service And Theater Tickets

Schneiderman: This Defendant Is Headed To Jail And Will Repay Every Dollar That He Stole From This Nonprofit

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced that Daniel Dominguez, a volunteer emergency medical technician who stole over $300,000 from the Corona Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CCAC) in Queens, has been sentenced to serve four months in jail and five years probation, and to pay full restitution. In the event that Dominguez fails to pay the full restitution amount, he faces up to seven years in prison.

“Daniel Dominguez used this charity dedicated to providing medical services to New Yorkers as his own personal piggy bank,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. "This defendant is not only headed to jail, but also must repay every dollar that he stole from the nonprofit. Our message is clear: Crime doesn’t pay."

Dominguez pleaded guilty on January 14, 2015 to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. Dominguez was sentenced today before the Honorable Justice Joel Blumenfeld in Queens County Supreme Court.

According to the Attorney General's felony complaint filed in September 2013, from March 2009 to May 2011, Dominguez used his position as a board member and treasurer of CCAC to steal more than $300,000 from CCAC bank accounts. Dominguez used his access to CCAC bank accounts to transfer funds directly into his own personal accounts. He then used that money for extravagant jaunts to Walt Disney World and Niagara Falls, as well as purchases of luxury car service trips, theater tickets, rent, car payments and fancy meals.

Founded in 1960, CCAC is a non-profit volunteer ambulance organization whose EMTs and paramedics provide basic medical care to patients and transport them to hospitals. CCAC responds to 911 calls as well as community requests to transport patients to hospital and medical appointments.

The Attorney General's investigation commenced with a complaint from CCAC board members to the Attorney General's Charities Bureau about possible missing or misappropriated funds from CCAC bank accounts. An investigation conducted by attorneys and an accountant in the Charities Bureau uncovered hundreds of thousands of dollars embezzled from the not-for-profit.

Separate felony complaints filed by the Attorney General’s Office in September 2013 alleged that two other CCAC board members, Daryl Adeva and David Moretti--who served as a board member and President of CCAC--also stole thousands of dollars from CCAC between September 2008 and May 2011. Adeva and Moretti were each convicted of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a Class A Misdemeanor).

The Attorney General thanked the New York State Police and Commissioner Joseph D'Amico for their assistance in the case.

The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Lee Bergstein of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau. The bureau is led by Bureau Chief Gary T. Fishman and Deputy Bureau Chiefs Stephanie Swenton and Meryl Lutsky. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.

This case was investigated by Supervising Investigator Michael Ward, Deputy Chief of Investigations John McManus. The Investigations Division is led by Chief Investigator Dominick Zarrella.