A former Town of Huntington employee and Village of Huntington Bay trustee has been accused of falsifying his work experience on a Suffolk County job application, prosecutors said.
A grand jury indicted Dominic Spada on a felony count of offering a false instrument for filing and misdemeanor charges of making a punishable false written statement, falsifying business records, and conspiracy. The 58-year-old Huntington man pleaded not guilty Wednesday when he was arraigned at Suffolk County court. Judge Richard Horowitz released him without bail.
“Based on Mr. Spada’s accomplishments during his short time in office, he may be the best Director of Maritime Services the Town has ever had, which is what makes this loss so significant,” Huntington Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci said, noting that Spada resigned Friday.
When Spada was serving as deputy director of Maritime Services for Huntington town, he filed an application in 2018 with Suffolk’s Department of Civil Service to take an exam for the position of bay constable in 2018.
The position requires applicants to have a minimum of two years’ maritime experience in order to qualify, but Spada allegedly falsely claimed on his application to have worked for a Huntington-based maritime towing company for five years, prosecutors said. He also allegedly conspired with the owner of the company to corroborate the claim, according to investigators. It’s unclear if the second person will also face charges.
Huntington Bay village declined to comment on the arrest of its trustee, who previously served as the village’s police commissioner and deputy mayor. Spada is also a harbormaster in the Town of Islip and the first assistant chief of the Halesite Fire Department. Neither Islip nor Halesite responded to requests for comment.
Spada’s attorney was not immediately available for comment. He is due back in court March 16. He faces up to four years in prison, if convicted.
Sign up for Long Island Press’ email newsletters here. Sign up for home delivery of Long Island Press here. Sign up for discounts by becoming a Long Island Press community partner here.
