Former Mayfield Town Clerk Dorothy Hart was sentenced today to 250 hours of community service and paid back over $35,000 which she stole from property tax payments and dog license fees deposited with the town over four years, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said.

"This should serve as a warning to those who would blur the line between their public duty and personal gain,” DiNapoli said. “Thanks to my office’s work with the New York State Police and Fulton County District Attorney Chad Brown we exposed Hart’s fraud and she has been convicted of a felony and forced to repay the money she stole.”

Hart, 64, of Mayfield, who was the elected town clerk, pleaded guilty in September to fourth degree grand larceny, a class E felony. From 2011 to 2015, she pocketed more than $27,000 in property taxes and $8,000 of dog licensing and other fees. She covered her crimes by submitting false monthly reports to the town supervisor.

Hart is also barred from serving in public office as a result of her sentence.

DiNapoli's investigation was handled by his Division of Investigations working with his Division of Local Government and School Accountability in partnership with Fulton County District Attorney Brown and the New York State Police.

Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at https://www.osc.state.ny.us/investigations, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 14th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.