MINEOLA, N.Y. – On Wednesday, Michael Arbassio, 65, and Eileen Dantini, 61, of Hicksville, were recently arraigned on charges for allegedly obtaining over $12,000 in rental assistance funds by submitting fraudulent paperwork. These funds were part of a COVID relief program administered by the Town of Oyster Bay. The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office charged the couple with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and six counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.
It is alleged that Arbassio and Dantini, who were tenants in a Hicksville home for about ten years, falsely claimed that they were in a landlord-tenant agreement. From December 19, 2021, to January 19, 2022, the couple allegedly received $12,800 in rental assistance funds by submitting a fraudulent lease agreement and other documents.
Arbassio and Dantini pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. They are scheduled to return to court on May 23, 2023. If convicted of the top count, they could face a prison sentence ranging from 2 to 7 years.
Upon suspecting fraudulent activity, the Town of Oyster Bay and the Long Island Housing Partnership referred the case to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in August 2022. Arbassio and Dantini surrendered to the District Attorney’s Detective Investigators on Tuesday.