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Seaford accountant sentenced

D.A. says he stole from clients, family says he’s a good man

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A Seaford man will spend time in prison after stealing money from clients of his former accounting firm, but the sentence has come as a shock to his family, who say there is more to the story than authorities have said.

Scott Meyer, 48, was sentenced to 4 1/3 to 13 years in prison by Judge Mark Cohen in Suffolk County Court on Aug. 11. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, while working for the accounting firm Johnson and Meyer in Huntington, Meyer stole about $800,000 from clients.

Spota said that Meyer took more than $159,000 from John C. Dunphy, of Greenport, the late owner of W.T. Hickey Corp. Electrical Contractors. Dunphy suffered from Alzheimer’s disease before he died in April 2014. His sister, Frances Dunphy Livernois, wrote a letter on her brother’s behalf saying that Meyer took advantage of Dunphy when he was most vulnerable.

Meyer was also accused of stealing $427,500 from the Huntington Rural Community Association, a non-profit group, among others. He was ordered to pay restitution to all victims.

Meyer’s wife, Kim, said that her husband’s actions were the result of a gambling problem. She explained that although he did accept a plea deal, he did not steal money from his clients, but rather moved funds around in an effort to cover his losses. “He never, ever intended to hurt anyone,” she said. “He didn’t do everything that they said he did. What they’re doing is making him out to be a dirty gambler.

“It really is a sad disease,” she added. “It’s ugly. But we do hope we get out of this somehow.”

Additionally, Kim Meyer said that her husband has neurological issues as a result of brain lesions. According to his doctors, his brain function and behavior were likely affected by inflammation in his central nervous system. This likely impaired his decision making and increased his impulsivity, the doctors said. He had been undergoing care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Columbia University Medical Center.

Meyer attended bi-weekly therapy for his gambling problem.

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