Community board big busted in $40G forge
A FORMER Brooklyn community board leader who resigned last year after being accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend pulled off a John Hancock hoax to give himself bogus raises, city investigators said.
Craig Hammerman, 53, is accused of forging signatures on paperwork to authorize salary bumps for himself while serving as district manager of Community Board 6.
Under the scheme, he banked nearly $40,000 in unauthorized pay, according to the Brooklyn district attorney’s office and the city Department of Investigation.
“This defendant allegedly sought to enrich himself with taxpayer money to which he was not entitled,” Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said. “This was a betrayal of the public trust that cannot be tolerated.”
Hammerman pulled off the rogue raises by signing the names of two Community Board 6 chairmen to letters and other paperwork between May 2015 and October 2017, investigators said. The board’s district includes Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook and Park Slope.
One October 2016 letter authorizing that had the bogus signature of board Chairman Sayar Lonial was sent to Borough President Eric Adams’ office authorizing a raise for Hammerman, probers say. Another with Lonial’s forged signature was sent to the city’s Office of Management and Budget in March 2017 authorizing another raise for Hammerman, prosecutors said. “New Yorkers expect — and deserve — public servants serving their communities with integrity that is beyond reproach,” Investigation Department Commissioner Mark Peters said. “DOI will continue to pursue those city workers criminally who take advantage of taxpayers and steal city funds.” Records show Hammerman’s salary increased from $109,993 in 2015 to $121,931 in 2017. He resigned his post in October 2017, after he was arrested on charges of stalking his ex-girlfriend.
The stalking charges have since been dismissed.
The alleged unauthorized raises were discovered during an internal probe in September.
Hammerman was arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court on a 17-count forgery indictment. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
Hammerman was clad in a Tshirt and boxers when he greeted a Daily News reporter at his Fort Greene home Monday night. “Sorry, we don’t have an appointment. I have nothing to say,” he said.
“My client was charged with authorizing raises for himself and staffers,” said his lawyer, Joyce David. “The question is whether these raises have to be authorized.”