Guldi still in jail; bail increased

George Guldi had hoped to get out of jail by Monday, but the former county lawmaker will remain behind bars after his bail was more than doubled Friday by a Suffolk judge.

Guldi, 57, had been jailed on $1-million bond or $500,000 cash bail since his conviction Wednesday on insurance fraud and grand larceny charges. At a hearing Friday in Suffolk County Court, Judge James F.X. Doyle increased bail to $2.2-million bond or $1.1-million cash.

The judge said state law required him to increase the bail because Guldi was convicted of a felony.

Guldi still faces another trial on mortgage fraud charges. He appeared in court Friday wearing green jail clothing and with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Guldi, who represented himself at trial, disputed Assistant District Attorney Thalia Stavrides' contention in court that he might flee the country if he were freed on bail.

"I'm not going anywhere, your honor. I'm not a flight risk," Guldi told Doyle. "I will be here for the trial. I intend to fight this."

Guldi, a Democrat who represented an East End district in the Suffolk Legislature from 1993 to 2003, was convicted on charges he deposited an $863,000 insurance check that should have been used to pay off a mortgage on his Westhampton Beach home. The check had been made out to him and a mortgage lender after the house was destroyed in a November 2008 fire, prosecutors said.

SEE PHOTOSGeorge Guldi

Prosecutors also said Guldi forged the lender's endorsement on the check, but he was acquitted of forgery.

Guldi had been prepared to make the lower bail in hopes of being free by Monday, said Central Islip attorney Christopher Brocato, who was Guldi's court-appointed legal adviser during the monthlong trial. The increased bail was a setback, but Guldi still hopes to win his release, Brocato said.

Guldi faces a maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years on the grand larceny conviction and 2 1/3 to 7 years for insurance fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18.