Head of ex-clubhouse indicted for taking food gear

NEW YORK--There is not long, ex - New York Mets clubhouse Manager Charlie Samuels allowed ballplayers with a smile and a handshake in the clubhouse of the team.

On the afternoon of Tuesday seated Samuels pontificating in Queens Supreme Court, his hands cuffed behind his back, fight against charges of painting him as a thief and a fraud.

Samuels was charged on the charge that he had criminally close memories used in game - including $ 2.3 million signed jerseys, bats and balls of baseball - which belonged to the Mets organization, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced Wednesday.

Clubhouse Manager AP Photo/Kathy WillensFormer Mets Charlie Samuels stands before a judge at his appearance at the Court of Queens County Wednesday.

Samuels, who was with the team for 27 seasons, is also accused of embezzlement of $24,955 by dishes by submitting requests for compensation inflated and failing to report or pay on $203,789 taxes advice and contributions he received of Mets players and others in 2008 and 2009.

"The defendant had a dream job any Mets fan would die for - and it blew up.". "His greed is alleged have gotten the better of him," said Mr. Brown.

Samuels was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Supreme Court of Queens. His lawyer, Michael Bachner, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Samuels is expected to return to court June 17. He was released after posting bail of $75,000 through a payer. The 21 counts faces Samuels, it might pass between 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison.

The indictment includes charges criminal possession of property stolen in the first degree, the third-degree grand larceny and criminal tax fraud.

Indictment Tuesday was that the result of a survey of long months on ' Samuels alleged illegal game and flight of sporting memories at the cottage of dishes.

The investigation revealed in November. Samuels was fired soon after. Investigators initially focused on allegations that Samuels had been involved in the game with people who had links with organized crime.

“

It is a case of material Manager leading the National League in interceptions.

"-New York City police Commissioner Raymond Kelly"

But the survey, conducted by the Attorney of District of Queens Bureau and NYPD detectives of the organized crime unit, soon extended to theft alleged memories Samuels in the cottage of dishes.

"It is a case of major equipment manager of interceptions, the National League" Commissioner of police of New York City Raymond Kelly said in a statement.

Stored Samuels 507 shirts signed and unsigned, 304 hats, 828 bats, 22 batting helmets and 10 bags of equipment, said Mr. Brown. Officials recovered objects of collection in the basement of a friend in Madison, Conn. Prosecutor's Office alleged that Samuels has accumulated items to fund his retirement.

Prosecutors did not charge Samuels with memories of the sale.

"He kept it as his own collection so he could one day sell,", said Mr. Brown.

Samuels counsel argues that the Mets Samuels given permission to have the elements. Bachner said that Samuels gathered signatures on points after he obtained with the permission of the team. He says that the signatures were obtained "in a friendly capacity with the players."

Counsel also said that the evaluation of the attorneys of the memories was "legally wrong".

"This indictment just made at first base, he is never coming home,"Bachner said, adding, "there is no criminal conduct here." ""

Counsel was in disagreement with the statement of the prosecution that the Samuels shares were a betrayal of the trust.

Ian Begley/ESPNNewYork.comCharlie Samuels is charged criminally with, among other things, this autographed commemorative jersey in the first set of dishes after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

"At the end of the day, this is not a betrayal of the trust." It is a betrayal of Charlie Samuels, "he says.

Samuels, wearing a white shirt and a dark, tailored suit did not comment as he was taken in a white van.

The Office of the district attorney presented a Jersey signed by Mets players of the team in the world-winning 1986 series and an autographed commemorative jersey in the first game played after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

"The Mets fired Charlie Samuels with the Organization on November 12, 2010, after an internal inquiry in which we discovered irregularities and violations of the policies of club," the Mets said in a statement. "We have cooperated with the NYPD and the Office of the Attorney of District of Queens in their criminal investigation long and thorough."

"As it is a criminal case pending, we will have no other comments.

Samuels served as Director of material of the dishes since 1983 and began his career with the team in 1976. He later added the title of Manager, clubhouse and Secretary to the description of his work.

Asked about the relationship of Samuels with Fred and Jeff Wilpon, who are the owners of the majority of the dishes with Saul Katz, Bachner declined comment.

He said "That will all come out, in the first instance".

The Wilpons have been hit hard by the chain of Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme and conduct a search for a minority owner to buy a share of the team.

The Wilpons acted quickly when he learned of his wrongdoing alleged Samuels.

Samuels, a resident of 53 years of Arverne, Queens, was suspended without pay by the team, shortly after the investigation was revealed.

Bachner, Samuels lawyer, says his client is eager to challenge the charges who came Wednesday.

"" He is out. "."He is happy, he came out and he now has a chance finally to stop boxing in the dark, he said.