East Moriches - During jury selection on Tuesday, December 1 defendant Alan Crane former Chief of the East Moriches Community Ambulance plead guilty to charges of Grand Larceny and Defrauding the Government.

Alan Crane, 61, of 12 Inlet View Path, East Moriches, plead guilty today to Grand Larceny in the third degree, a Class D felony and Defrauding the Government, an E felony.

Search Warrants executed during the investigation into Crane as Chief of the East Moriches Community Ambulance resulted in the seizure of documents and other evidence that illustrated "a simple scam based on the defendant's editing of receipts to mask his spending on entertainment, food and holiday gifts," Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said. The evidence gathered by detectives during the investigation outlined the defendant's repeated submission of altered receipts to receive reimbursement for thousands of dollars worth of toys, food, candy, liquor and clothing for which Crane was reimbursed with taxpayer funds.

County Court Judge FX Doyle will sentence the defendant to six months community service in lieu of jail and five years probation on January 28, 2010. The defendant will also make full restitution of $6,800 back to the East Moriches Community Ambulance.