(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Michael Goonan, 63, of Commack, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, for stealing more than half a million dollars from his parents that were earmarked to pay the nursing home where his mother resided.
“The safety and well-being of our elderly population is of paramount concern,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We want those who choose to exploit our vulnerable populations to know that they will be held accountable regardless of their relationship to the victim.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, starting in May 2018, Goonan stole a total of $600,480 from his parents’ bank accounts by having certified and personal checks issued payable to himself that were then deposited into his own account. Goonan’s mother had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and his father was experiencing memory and cognitive decline. Goonan used the money he stole from his parents to pay for personal expenses including his mortgage and college tuition for his children.
In August 2018, Goonan’s mother became a full-time resident of a nursing home. Although Goonan initially made some payments to the facility, he ultimately stopped paying when he depleted his parents’ bank account putting his mother at risk of losing her room at the nursing home, which is how his crimes were uncovered.
On January 24, 2025, Goonan surrendered to law enforcement authorities.
On October 3, 2025, Goonan pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft. Goonan faces 2 to 6 years in prison if he fails to come up with $300,000 in restitution prior to his sentencing date. Goonan is due back in court on November 25, 2025, and he is being represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Donna M. Planty of the Financial Crimes Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Anthony Mezzapelle from the Suffolk County Police Department, currently assigned to the Financial Crimes Bureau of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
