Jonnell Rose, the former Treasurer of the Vernon Center Fire Department, was sentenced to serve one to three years in state prison and ordered to pay full restitution for stealing more than $300,000 from the department, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville, and the New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced today. Rose pled guilty to the sole count in the indictment, grand larceny in the second degree, in August.
“Instead of serving his department, Jonnell Rose chose to serve himself by stealing over $300,000 in money meant to protect his community,” DiNapoli said. “This crime was a serious betrayal of the public’s trust and I thank District Attorney Carville and the New York State Police for their partnership in holding him accountable.”
Carville said, “The defendant was placed in a position of trust, and he violated that trust. In doing so, he not only victimized the fine, selfless men and women volunteers of the Vernon Center Fire Department, but the entire community they serve. I would like to thank the New York State Police and the New York State Comptroller’s Office for their hard work as well as the efforts of my Assistant, ADA Paul Kelly, who ensured that the defendant was held responsible and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
James said, “Public service is built on integrity and trust, and when that trust is violated, it undermines the safety and confidence of an entire community. The New York State Police will continue to work with our partners to uncover and investigate financial crimes like this one, ensuring those who abuse their positions of responsibility are held accountable.”
The investigation found that Rose, 52, wrote himself checks from the fire department’s account and deposited checks written to the fire department’s vendors into his personal account, purloining $309,000 over six years from May 2018 to May 2024.
Rose’s sentence was imposed by Judge Michael R. Nolan in Oneida County Court.
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 emailing a complaint to [email protected] or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.