New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Thursday, February 13, 2020, Jolene Roy, 45, of Pine Bush, pleaded guilty before Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown, to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, in connection with the embezzlement of over $21,000 from the Town of Crawford, where Roy served as Town Clerk.

At the time that she pleaded guilty, Roy admitted that between May 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018, she embezzled funds from the Town of Crawford that she had received as Town Clerk. She also admitted making false entries in Town records to conceal the thefts. An investigation by the New York State Police, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Comptroller’s Office revealed that Roy stole in excess of $21,000, including by stealing funds that the Town was to receive from the rental of rooms for events at the Town of Crawford Senior Center.

Roy is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2020. Roy agreed that on or before that date she will pay $21,296.25 in restitution to the Town of Crawford.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of Roy, as well as the Town of Crawford Police Department and the New York State Comptroller’s Office who aided in the investigation.

District Attorney Hoovler commended Assistant District Attorney Ryan Greenbaum, who aided in the investigation and prosecuted the case.

"Ms. Roy was an elected official who was trusted to make sure that taxpayer dollars were being used responsibly. Now, she is a convicted felon who must pay back more than $20,000,” said DiNapoli. "I thank Orange County District Attorney Hoovler, the New York State Police, and the Town of Crawford Police for their partnership in helping ensure that abuse of public resources will not be tolerated."

“Public service is a sacred trust and those who abuse their positions to enrich themselves must be held accountable,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Embezzlement cases, particularly those involving the tampering of records, are always challenging to investigate and I thank the New York State Police and the New York State Comptroller’s Office for their resources and their expertise in handling this investigation, as well as the Town of Crawford Police Department for aiding in the investigation.”

A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.