Centereach, NY - May 9, 2014 - The Suffolk County Commissioner of Information Technology pleaded not guilty today to official misconduct charges and one felony count of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, District Attorney Thomas Spota said.
Donald C. Rodgers, 60, of 65 Lolly Lane in Centereach Surrendered to DA investigators this morning.
The felony count of offering a false instrument alleges Rodgers failed to disclose his position as President of his own computer firm as well as the revenue his company earned in 2012. All non-county business and non -county earnings are required under law to be detailed on a Commissioner’s County Financial Disclosure statement that is filed with the Suffolk County Board of Ethics.
District Attorney Spota said “One charge of official misconduct accuses Rodgers of lying to the Suffolk County Legislature during questioning by lawmakers about whether he had signed an agreement with the Microsoft Corporation,” said Spota. “Rodgers said no and in fact he had signed it and lied to conceal this fact.”
“We have also charged Commissioner Rodgers with official misconduct for compelling one of his subordinates in the Information Technology Department to create a fake requisition number. He wanted to place the number on an official Letter of Intent to purchase 5 million dollars of computer licenses with Microsoft and Dell Corporations,” the DA said.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, Rodgers was released on his own recognizance.