Nab R’Wood Activist For Estate Larceny
A long-time civic activist in Ridgewood was arraigned on grand larceny charges earlier this month for allegedly misappropriating $200,000 in funds which he was asked by a local estate to hold in escrow, prosecutors noted.
Michael Hetzer, 53, of 69th Avenue in Ridgewood-vice president of Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR), former president of the 104th Precinct Community Council and a member of Community Board 5- was booked in Queens Criminal Court on May 3 on one count of second degree grand larceny.
Shortly after his arrest, Hetzer reportedly stepped down as president of the 104th Precinct Community Council. The status of his membership with CBR and Board 5 was not known as of press time.
According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office to the Times Newsweekly on Tuesday, May 15, Hetzer was retained in August 2006 by the administrator of a Glendale man’s estate to hold in escrow proceeds from the sale of several properties in Glendale, including two locations on Central Avenue and a home on 64th Place. For his services, he was reportedly provied with a $25,000 payment.
When the sale of the properties was completed in February 2008, law enforcement sources said, Hetzer was provided with two checks totaling $100,000 in proceeds which were to be held in escrow.
Based on information obtained during their investigation, detectives reportedly learned that Hetzer allegedly deposited the money into his IOLA state escrow account in March of that year.
After litigation was filed against the Glendale man’s estate and its administrator in December 2008, authorities said, the administrator and her attorney made numerous attempts to contact Hetzer and secure bank records indicating that the $200,000 remained in escrow funds.
Despite numerous attempts, law enforcement sources said, Hetzer allegedly failed to respond.
Through an investigation by the Queens District Attorney’s office which included an examination of those records, it was determined that as of Dec. 30, 2011, only $10,135 remained in Hetzer’s account.
After being questioned by the D.A.’s office on Apr. 23, Hetzer was arrested on May 3 by Det. Kevin Kehoe of the NYPD Queens District Attorney Squad. The Ridgewood resident was arraigned before Judge Michael Yavinsky, who released him on his own recognizance and ordered him to return to court on June 19.
It was noted that a criminal complaint is an accusation and Hetzer is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
