FDNY Firefighter Indicted for Credit Card Theft

A firefighter with FDNY has been indicted for reportedly stealing credit cards at an emergency scene, and later using the cards. Sylus McKenzie is accused of taking two credit cards from a Manhattan apartment during an emergency response for an unresponsive man on January 11, 2021. The unresponsive man passed away.

McKenzie, 33, is accused of using the cards the following day and charging $1,123.21 at a gas station, a supermarket, and at Target. The transactions all took place in a two-hour period. PIX11 quoted Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark as saying:

• The defendant, a firefighter in the New York City Fire Department, allegedly stole an American Express card and a Mastercard while responding to a 911 call at the Manhattan home of a patient who died.
• A day later, the defendant allegedly went to various stores in the Bronx and made purchases using the stolen cards. These alleged actions are reprehensible, even more so because he is a member of the city’s Bravest and violated the public trust.

PIX11 also quoted New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber as saying:

• This City firefighter, as alleged, was entrusted to provide emergency medical attention to New Yorkers in need. Instead, he used his position to steal the identity and credit cards of an individual he was called upon to help.
• The disgraceful charged conduct does not represent the compassion and integrity of the City’s first responders and I thank the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD for their commitment to hold accountable those City employees who violate the trust placed in them.

McKenzie is facing:

• Two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree
• Attempted identity theft in the second degree
• Identity theft in the third degree
• Criminal impersonation in the second degree
• Official misconduct

More on the story.

Sound familiar? The case from three weeks ago was from St. Louis.