Former Community Board 6 district manager forged documents to give himself a raise, DA says

Craig Hammerman indicted on 17 counts

May 14, 2018 By Raanan Geberer Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Craig Hammerman. Eagle file photo by Mary Frost

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Craig Hammerman, who was the district manager of Community Board 6 for 27 years until leaving in scandal after a domestic arrest last year, gave himself raises by forging signatures on documents, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark Peters announced on Monday.

“This defendant allegedly sought to enrich himself with taxpayer money to which he was not entitled,” Gonzalez said. “This was a betrayal of the public trust that cannot be tolerated.”

Gonzalez said Hammerman, 53, received $38,345 in salary that he was not entitled to as a result of his alleged fraud. He’s facing seven years in prison if convicted on the multiple counts of forgery, criminal possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records and grand larceny.

Hammerman’s salary was $121,931 when he resigned in October 2017 after he was arrested on unrelated charges of stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend after downloading her Uber account.

According to the indictment, between May 2015 and October 2017, Hammerman forged the signature of Community Board 6 Chairman Sayar Lonial three times and forged the signature of former CB6 Chairman Gary Reilly one time to give himself unauthorized raises. Those letters were sent to various city agencies.

The alleged forgery was discovered during an internal investigation in September 2017, and the matter was referred to the Department of Investigation, according to the DA’s office.

Hammerman denied the charges through his lawyer.

“We’re going to fight these charges,” attorney Joyce David said. “There was absolutely no fraudulent intent. In fact, there was a digital signature that he [Hammerman] was authorized to use on all documents that he submitted.”

Community Board 6 includes Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook and Park Slope.

Hammerman was released without bail and ordered to return to court on Aug. 8.