Nassau emergency management official Edward Korona accused of perjury

HICKSVILLE (WABC) -- The deputy commissioner of the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management was arrested Thursday, accused of lying about a prior conviction on job applications.

Edward Korona Jr., 53, of Hicksville, was arraigned in Nassau District Court on charges including perjury and official misconduct. He was released without bail.

He faces a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. Korona's wife and father were in court, and his attorney said Korona will fight the charges.

Authorities say the case against Korona was uncovered during the course of an investigation by the District Attorney's Office into county contracts. He is not accused of any crimes related to contracts.

Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas says the 53-year-old allegedly lied on applications four times for various county jobs. The charges arose out of her investigation into county contracts and the contract approval process. Officials say Korona had committed felony burglary in 1982 and served a prison sentence in Elmira.

"Lying about a prior felony four times on sworn job applications is a serious offense - especially for a high-ranking official entrusted with important responsibilities," Singas said in a press release.

Korona's current job is appointed.

He is charged with four counts of perjury, four counts of offering a false instrument for filing, four counts of making an apparently false sworn statement and official misconduct.

County Attorney Carnell Foskey said Korona has been a civil servant since 1986 and the matter is under review.