DONGAN HILLS — A man pretending to collect money for a prisoner of war charity stole $400 from Staten Island businesses during a two month span, prosecutors said.
Daniel Nemeth, 34, went to several businesses across Staten Island between June 27 and July 11 claiming he was a representative of the charity Rolling Thunder and asking for donations, prosecutors said.
He went into nine spots saying he was from the charity and was given $100 from four, prosecutors said.
Nemeth was arrested on Monday, seven days after he tried to get money from the last business he visited, the Eltingville Florist, and told officers he pretended to collect donations to fund his drug habit.
"Being that I lost my job and was using as much as I was, I used the information to try and raise money for something I was not a part of," Nemeth told officers, according to court documents.
"I am truly sorry. I have done so to benefit my drug use."
Nemeth was charged with scheming to defraud, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property at his arraignment, according to the Staten Island District Attorney's office.
He was previously arrested in February after he stole $1,000 from 12 different businesses claiming to collect donations for a charity, the Staten Island Advance reported.
For his latest arrest, Nemeth's bail was set at $5,000 and he's due back in court on July 25, according to online court records.
His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
