James Kalamaras, 41, of Suffolk, arraigned on grand jury indictment for role in scheme to set fire to doctor’s office
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arraignment of a Suffolk man on grand jury charges for setting a fire that damaged the office of a Nassau cardiologist as part of an arson scheme ordered by a rival doctor.
James Kalamaras, 41, was arraigned today on a new charge, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree (a D felony), along with Arson in the 3rd Degree (a C felony) and Burglary in the 3rd Degree (a D felony), which were upheld by the grand jury. Nassau Court of Claims Judge Philip Grella continued bail at $500,000 bond or $350,000 cash. Kalamaras faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is due back in court on May 27.
“Thankfully no one was hurt as a result of the fire that this defendant is charged with setting as part of a plot started by one Nassau cardiologist against another,” Acting DA Singas said. “Mr. Kalamaras is alleged to have taken money to damage and destroy property, but thanks to the efforts of our joint investigation, this crime did not pay.”
Acting DA Singas said that on Feb. 25, Kalamaras is alleged to have helped set a fire that damaged but did not destroy the office of a Nassau cardiologist who was engaged in a professional dispute with a fellow practitioner, Dr. Anthony Moschetto.
Moschetto, 54, of Sands Point, is alleged to have hired Kalamaras to set fire to the doctor’s office as part of an arson scheme to put the competing doctor out of business.
Assistant District Attorney George Smit is prosecuting the case with Deputy Bureau Chief Anne Donnelly and Bureau Chief Rick Whelan of Acting DA Singas’ Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau. Kalamaras is represented by Stephen Kunken, Esq. Moschetto is represented by Randy Zelin, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.