An Island Park man previously charged in a wage theft and fraud case involving a West Hempstead restaurant is facing new felony charges after allegedly using an employee’s identity to obtain approximately $80,000 in business financing.
Mahmut Unver, 56, was arrested Oct. 29 and charged with second-degree grand larceny and first-degree identity theft, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
Police said the alleged victim, a 43-year-old employee of Anatolia Restaurant at 185 Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead, learned in August 2025 that approximately $80,000 in business financing had been obtained in his name for the restaurant.
The employee had never requested the financing and reported the matter to police, investigators said.
Detectives from the Nassau County Police Department’s Electronics Squad Fraud and Forgery Section investigated the allegations in conjunction with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office Major Financial Frauds Bureau.
The investigation resulted in Unver surrendering to detectives at the Eighth Precinct on Oct. 29.
Unver was arraigned that day in First District Court in Hempstead, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Court records show he was released with nonmonetary conditions.
The new case is separate from earlier criminal proceedings involving Unver, who was previously charged in connection with alleged wage theft and fraud.
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In those proceedings, Nassau County Court records show Unver pleaded not guilty to charges that include grand larceny, scheme to defraud and violations of state labor law.
The earlier cases remain pending. Both are scheduled for conferences Nov. 6 before Judge Robert A. McDonald. Unver’s new identity theft and grand larceny case is also scheduled for a Nov. 6 appearance before Judge Anthony William Paradiso.
The allegations in all three proceedings remain unresolved.
Photo: Mahmut Unver faces grand larceny and identity theft charges after allegedly obtaining $80,000 in financing using a West Hempstead restaurant employee’s identity. (Nassau County Police Department)
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