State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that former Family Service Society (FSS) Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Thurber today pleaded guilty to manipulating the organization’s payroll system to defraud the organization of over $5,500. Thurber altered the payroll system to increase her paid time off and lower her health insurance premiums, giving herself $5,518.77 in benefits that she was not entitled to.

"Today, Jennifer Thurber is being held accountable for her actions,” DiNapoli said. “She was entrusted with overseeing key business functions for an organization that does vital work with youth, but chose to abuse this power and steal from the organization. My thanks to the Steuben County District Attorney’s Office and the Corning Police Department for their ongoing partnership in ensuring we uncover corruption and carry out justice.”

The State Comptroller’s Division of Investigations and Corning Police Department found that Thurber, 56, altered her employment anniversary date, allowing her to receive 29 hours of additional personal and floating holiday hours. Thurber also improperly gave herself 66 additional hours of leave accruals and misrepresented her employment status as full-time, instead of part-time, to avoid paying higher health insurance premiums. Finally, she failed to properly charge 42.25 paid time off hours within the payroll system.

Thurber, who was employed by FSS for more than 20 years, was terminated on December 27, 2018 once her actions were brought to light. She pleaded guilty to falsifying business records in the first degree and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,518.77. Thurber is due back in court for sentencing on August 9, 2022.

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, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.