An FDNY EMT from College Point has been indicted for stealing a debit card from a senior he was giving emergency assistance to — and then using the card to buy food and high-end champagne. (Photo of an FDNY ambulance by Michael Dorgan, Queens Post)
Nov. 8, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
An FDNY EMT from College Point has been indicted for stealing a debit card from a senior he was giving emergency assistance to — and then using the card to buy food and high-end champagne.
Robert Marshall, 29, was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Tuesday charged with grand larceny, forgery, and an array of other crimes after he allegedly swiped a debit card from the purse of 79-year-old Barbara Faison during an emergency call to her Springfield Gardens home.
Marshall, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, stole the card on Aug. 8 at around 9 a.m. while he was inside the victim’s home — near Edgewood Avenue and 230th Avenue — and preparing to transport her by ambulance to a hospital.
Later that day, at around 6:50 p.m., Marshall was captured on CCTV footage purchasing two bottles of Moët champagne from a liquor store on 20th Avenue in College Point using Faison’s debit card.
He also used the same debit card to splash out on items at a brick oven pizzeria and at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. Marshall used the card at a Key Food grocery store and at a laundromat too, according to the charges.
Faison, the victim, became aware her debit card was missing several days after Aug. 8 having returned home from the hospital, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
“This first responder allegedly used the medical crisis of a senior citizen as an opportunity to steal and indulge himself,” Katz said.
“When those tasked with helping New Yorkers abuse their positions of trust and hurt New Yorkers, they will be held accountable.”
Marshall, of 114th Street in College Point, was hit with a 12-count indictment with falsifying business records and criminal possession of stolen property among the charges.
He was also hit with charges of identity theft, petit larceny and unlawful possession of personal identification information.
Marshall faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted of all charges. He was ordered back to court on Dec. 16.
The FDNY said Marshall is currently on restricted duties and not permitted to be in contact with patients while his case is pending.
