Ex-Sachem North Football Coach Accused Of Stealing From District

The former football coach at Sachem High School North was arrested Friday for allegedly filing false claims of time worked to steal more nearly $6,000 from the school district, prosecutors said.

Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said prosectors charged David Falco, 52, of Center Moriches, with two felonies: third-degree grand larceny and false instrument for filing in the first degree. He was also charged with official misconduct, a misdemeanor.

“Not only was the defendant allegedly stealing funds from the school district by falsifying his time sheets, he was also telling other individuals that compensation for that very same extracurricular work was not available,” Sini said.

Between Dec. 11, 2017, and June 12, 2018, Falco allegedly filed eight teacher claim forms to Sachem Central School District to receive pay for supervising the high school’s north weight room, prosecutors said.

Falco received $5,755.68 from the school district as a result of the false claims, prosecutors said.

An investigation by Sini's office found Falco was not working during the times for which he was paid, Sini said.

While Falco, who resigned as Sachem North's football coach before the start of this school year, was being paid for the false claims, he told others working in the weight room that pay was unavailable, Sini said.

“He used his position to take money from the school and to deny others of their rightful pay," Sini said. "My office will not tolerate any public servants stealing taxpayer funds and taking advantage of our residents.”

Falco coached football at Sachem North for 15 years, while also serving as the school's physical education chairman, but resigned on Aug. 15 - days before the start of the season.

In a statement, Sachem Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Graham, said: "The district has been notified that David Falco, a physical education teacher at Sachem High School North, has been arrested. Mr. Falco has been reassigned to home pending the outcome of the legal process. This is an ongoing investigation and the district is continuing to cooperate with law enforcement authorities."

Falco's father Anthony has been a member of the Sachem Board of Education for decades.

Falco's attorney, John Scott Prudenti, told Newsday that his client has done nothing illegal and his actions were "consistent with the manner of distributing small stipends to members of the staff which participated in supervision and instruction of the student athletes involved in a very successful program."

Falco, who is making $142,911 as a teacher this year according to See Through New York, was arraigned Friday in Suffolk County District Court and was released on his own recognizance. If convicted, he faces two to seven years in prison.

Falco is due back in court on Jan. 31, 2019.