Fire Marshals Arrest Staten Island Man for Impersonating FDNY EMS Lieutenant

July 17, 2020

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro announced today that Fire Marshals arrested Robert Schnepf, 45, for defrauding Staten Island businesses while impersonating an FDNY Emergency Medical Services Lieutenant under the alias “Lt. Hart”.

“It is a complete abuse of public trust for someone to impersonate a public servant,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Members of this Department are proud to represent an agency that people can count on in their time of need. We and our partners in the prosecutor’s office and law enforcement alike will not tolerate any situation where someone is in the community falsely representing themselves for personal gain.”

On June 19, 2020, Fire Marshals observed a man who was wearing an FDNY EMS Lieutenant uniform and acting suspiciously within a public park in Queens. Further investigation by Fire Marshals revealed that while wearing a uniform and flashing a badge, Schnepf has allegedly deceived numerous Staten Island businesses out of money, goods and services.

Schnepf is charged with petit larceny, criminal impersonation of a public servant and possession of a forged instrument. The case will be prosecuted by the Richmond County District Attorney’s office.

Members of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) do not request or accept money or any form of payment from the public. Fire Marshals suspect there may have been similar incidents involving this suspect in the past, and the investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with any information, or who may have had similar interactions with the suspect is being asked to call the Bureau of Fire Investigation at (718) 722-3600.

Video of Suspect Robert Schnepf
Image #1 of Suspect Robert Schnepf
Image #2 of Suspect Robert Schnepf