Queens Firefighter Admits Role in Motorcycle Thefts

March 15, 2005 -- A Queens firefighter has admitted his role in a massive stolen-motorcycle ring yesterday, authorities said.

Eric Kohler, 32, pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption, and will receive between 1 1/2 to four years in jail when he is sentenced later this month, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

The suspended firefighter was arrested and remanded without bail on additional charges of selling auto parts online, including some from his own car, which he falsely reported stolen.

He was one of more than a dozen men involved in the operation, in which some 81 stolen motorcycles were sent to Queens chops shops. The parts were then sold over the Internet for more than $1 million.