A Staten Island doctor has admitted to committing grand larceny, after accusations emerged that he stole approximately $1.44 million from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn where he had held multiple influential positions for decades.
Dr. Michael Lucchesi, a 67-year-old retired medical professional and former chairman of emergency medicine at the facility, entered a guilty plea on Friday during proceedings before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun.
As part of the plea agreement, Lucchesi faces a potential sentence ranging from one to three years in prison. His guilty plea to first-degree grand larceny was confirmed in a news release from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors charged Lucchesi with using a business credit card meant solely for institutional purposes to fund personal indulgences, including personal travel, pet care, and even catering costs.
Details surrounding Lucchesi’s spending habits came to light during a SUNY audit, leading to the discovery of his illicit activities between December 2016 and January 2023.
According to the prosecution, the doctor’s extravagant expenditures included approximately $115,000 in cash advances and nearly $176,000 spent on pet care, over $120,000 of which was directed towards an upscale pet resort in New Jersey.
In addition, authorities uncovered that Lucchesi had spent around $348,000 on personal travel, $109,000 for memberships and personal training at the New York Sports Club, and $92,000 on premium seating for various events such as sporting matches and Broadway shows.
Lucchesi also allocated $52,000 for catering services and approximately $46,000 towards his children’s college tuition, alongside various other purchases including flowers, liquor, electronics, and miscellaneous online shopping expenses.
Initially, the former doctor faced a nine-count indictment that included accusations of first- and second-degree grand larceny, first-degree falsifying business records, and third-degree criminal tax fraud.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasized the significance of this case, stating, “The defendant used his employment with a vital healthcare institution to gain access to more than $1 million to fund a lavish lifestyle,” further asserting that Lucchesi’s actions represented a severe violation of public trust due to the misuse of taxpayer funds and resources.
State Inspector General Lucy Lang echoed these sentiments, stressing that New Yorkers expect public officials, particularly those in vital healthcare roles, to conduct themselves with integrity. “Dr. Lucchesi’s admitted theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the State represents a serious breach of public trust,” she stated.
Conversely, Amanda Hiller, the Acting Commissioner of the state Department of Taxation and Finance, warned that such actions would not be tolerated. She stated, “Let this serve as a warning to any taxpayers considering lining their pockets for personal gain. The defendant repeatedly took advantage of his position and is being held accountable.”
Lucchesi’s background reveals a long career at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where he was appointed officer in charge in 2016 following his tenure on the faculty as a professor and chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine starting in 2013. Having joined the institution in 1994, he rose through the ranks significantly.
Before his time at SUNY, he had served as an instructor at the Department of Emergency Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Lucchesi began his medical career in 1988 as an attending physician at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, after earning his Doctor of Medicine degree from Universidad del Noreste in Tampico, Mexico. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College, graduating magna cum laude.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the ramifications of Lucchesi’s actions will serve as a potent reminder of the responsibilities held by those in positions of public trust in the healthcare sector.
image source from：https://www.silive.com/crime-safety/2025/06/staten-island-doctor-convicted-in-14m-theft-to-fund-a-lavish-lifestyle.html
