gonzo
11-21-2008, 08:49 AM
Fire union official pleads guilty
NORWALK - A former Westport Fire Department union treasurer accused of improperly using his union credit card for 87 visits to bars and restaurants and purchasing Internet pornography avoided jail after pleading guilty to
reduced charges Thursday.
Eric Fine, 49, of 11 Doe Place, Shelton, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree larceny and two counts of illegal use of a credit card at state Superior Court in Norwalk.
After Fine posted $7,158 in restitution, Judge Burton Kaplan gave him a suspended three-year prison sentence and two years of probation.
Fine was arrested by Westport police in April after the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Association Local 1081 reported that Fine made 108 unauthorized charges totaling $7,150 from April 2004 to June 2007.
Union President Gary Marks said, "It is a sad situation. We are happy it is over, and we wish (Fine) well."
At the time of his arrest, Fine was charged with second-degree larceny and illegal use of a credit card. An eight-page arrest warrant affidavit detailed the charges.
He spent more than $3,100 for a computer and digital camera - purchases that were outside his union business, the affidavit states.
Of his bar and restaurant charges, the affidavit said Fine went to Westport's Tai Pan Restaurant 47 times, charging $16 to $200 for dinner and drinks.
He also charged nearly $700 to a company called AEBN Inc., which he said were purchases for professional journals.
But the union discovered the company was called the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network, an Internet adult entertainment site, the affidavit said. Fine made 14 charges of $49.95 each to AEBN, which on its Web site sells 500 minutes of pornographic Internet content for $49.95.
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/norwalkadvocate/news/ci_11038713
NORWALK - A former Westport Fire Department union treasurer accused of improperly using his union credit card for 87 visits to bars and restaurants and purchasing Internet pornography avoided jail after pleading guilty to
reduced charges Thursday.
Eric Fine, 49, of 11 Doe Place, Shelton, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree larceny and two counts of illegal use of a credit card at state Superior Court in Norwalk.
After Fine posted $7,158 in restitution, Judge Burton Kaplan gave him a suspended three-year prison sentence and two years of probation.
Fine was arrested by Westport police in April after the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Association Local 1081 reported that Fine made 108 unauthorized charges totaling $7,150 from April 2004 to June 2007.
Union President Gary Marks said, "It is a sad situation. We are happy it is over, and we wish (Fine) well."
At the time of his arrest, Fine was charged with second-degree larceny and illegal use of a credit card. An eight-page arrest warrant affidavit detailed the charges.
He spent more than $3,100 for a computer and digital camera - purchases that were outside his union business, the affidavit states.
Of his bar and restaurant charges, the affidavit said Fine went to Westport's Tai Pan Restaurant 47 times, charging $16 to $200 for dinner and drinks.
He also charged nearly $700 to a company called AEBN Inc., which he said were purchases for professional journals.
But the union discovered the company was called the Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network, an Internet adult entertainment site, the affidavit said. Fine made 14 charges of $49.95 each to AEBN, which on its Web site sells 500 minutes of pornographic Internet content for $49.95.
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/norwalkadvocate/news/ci_11038713