Ron Perelman's Butler Did It, Cops Say

A part-time butler for Ronald Perelman was arrested on Thursday after allegedly spending more than $9,000 using American Express card numbers issued to other employees of the Creeks, the billionaire's East Hampton estate.

Frank Squadrito, 26, of Manhattan allegedly told East Hampton Village police that he began working as a personal butler at the Creeks in May, living in employee quarters on the property. When he had to make purchases for the estate, he would borrow credit cards issued to other employees by the Creeks, according to his statement to police.

According to police, around Oct. 8, Mr. Squadrito took a Creeks credit card to buy clothes in Manhattan, but he made a detour. "I used it for dinner at a restaurant called Landmarc," he allegedly said. Police did not say how much Mr. Squadrito spent that night.

When he returned to the Creeks, he was told he had been fired, he said to police. No reason was given, Mr. Squadrito said in his statement, but he assumed it was for his unauthorized use of the card number. He told police that before he left the estate after being fired, he copied the numbers on American Express cards issued to three other Creeks employees, plus the number from the first employee's card.

He then flew to Puerto Rico for five days, he said. Police said it appeared he used his own money to pay for the trip.

After returning to New York City, Mr. Squadrito allegedly went on a spending spree with the four card numbers. "I just lived it up," he said in his statement to police. "I used the credit card numbers to make numerous purchases, including hotel rooms and taxi fares."

Mr. Squadrito's alleged spending spree was eventually noticed by Edward Mammone, a vice president and controller at MacAndrews & Forbes, Mr. Perelman's privately held company. He did some detective work of his own and discovered that it was Mr. Squadrito's signature on the purchases, police said. Mr. Mammone alerted the Creeks security team, who, in turn, alerted police.

According to Detective Bryan Eldridge, who made the arrest along with his partner, Detective Steven Sheades, the security team at the Creeks contacted them on Thursday, when Mr. Squadrito showed up at the estate seeking personal items he had left behind when he first went into the city.

In his interview with detectives, Mr. Squadrito estimated the total he spent at about $3,000. However, in his sworn affidavit, Mr. Mammone gave the total amount stolen as just over $9,105.

Mr. Squadrito was charged with grand larceny. During his arraignment on Friday morning in East Hampton Town Justice Court, his lawyer, Anthony Ciaccio of Schalk, Ciaccio & Kahn of Mineola, said that Mr. Squadrito came from "a family of means" in the affluent Syracuse suburb of Manlius and that his parents were prepared to pay "full restitution."

Town Justice Steven Tekulsky said that the district attorney's office had asked that bail be set at $40,000. Mr. Ciaccio urged a much lower amount, saying that his client was bipolar and had been off his medications. A high bail, he said, would only delay Mr. Squadrito's getting the medicine he needs.

Justice Tekulsky set bail at $2,500, which was posted later that afternoon.

Mr. Squadrito is due back in court on Feb. 11.