STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Huguenot man with an expensive oxycodone habit stole nearly $100,000 worth of U.S. Federal Savings bonds from his 85-year-old grandfather's home, authorities allege.
Robert A. Riley, 25, of Ellsworth Avenue, grabbed an envelope with 66 bonds from his grandfather's Eltingville home, then opened up a Santander Bank account and cashed them, getting $99,013.20, according to a criminal complaint filed against him Thursday.
He then told cops he "bought two cars, moved to (an) apartment, finished the apartment, took trips to Atlantic City and with the remaining $70,000 I bought drugs," the complaint alleges.
Riley, who has the same first and last name as his grandfather, but a different middle initial, cashed the bonds at the Santander Bank branch at 4310 Amboy Rd. in Eltingville, where he opened the account.
Riley admitted to the crime, and described how he did it, in the following statement, according to the complaint:
"I Robert Riley went to go visit my grandfather in February and discovered (a) envelope in his bedroom and took it not knowing what was inside. When I returned home I discovered that they were bonds not cash.
"I then held onto them for around three months and decided to open a bank account, at that time I brought the bonds with me to the bank and (became) aware that I was able to cash the bonds and deposit them into my account.
"Over the next four months I cashed 65-70 bonds totaling 99,011 dollars. With that money I bought two cars, moved to (an) apartment, finished the apartment, took trips to Atlantic City and with the remaining $70,000 I bought drugs."
A law enforcement source said Riley had a $500-a-day pill habit.
The complaint alleges he cashed the bonds on six separate dates between May and July, all at that same bank branch.
A source familiar with the case said the grandfather noticed the bonds missing and contacted authorities. At one point, the bank conducted its own investigation, the source said.
Santander spokesman Peter Greiff declined comment on the case, stating he'd have to look into the matter further before responding to questions.
Riley surrendered to police Thursday, and was charged with second-, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, second-, third, fourth- and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny, according to information from District Attorney Daniel Donovan's office.
Court records show Riley has two open marijuana cases - one a misdemeanor, the other a violation.
He was released on his own recognizance at his arraignment Thursday, and he's petitioning to enter the court's drug-treatment docket, said his lawyer, Louis E. Diamond.
"Our hope is that he'll be getting some help, and we've put in an application for drug treatment court," Diamond said, adding that Riley is addicted to the painkiller oxycodone. "Our hope here is to save the kid."
Diamond also praised the NYPD detective on the case, saying, "The detective did a dedicated job on the case. He went out of his way to let me surrender my client and let him start restitution immediately."
A woman answering the door at Riley's home said he wasn't available for comment Thursday, and Riley's grandfather declined comment.