"Michael Klein started stealing from the public just after he was appointed treasurer at the Mahopac Fire Department. He used his $5.7 million embezzlements to buy a yacht, a Mercedes, a Corvette, and Pandora jewels for his wife. My ongoing partnerships with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the New York State Police, the IRS and FBI brought Mr. Klein to justice today with his guilty plea. Klein will be ordered to repay the $5.7 million and is going to federal prison for his crimes."

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed audits of Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Town of Ithaca and the Town of Smithtown.

Small businesses are a vital part of New York state’s economy, supporting nearly 3.9 million jobs and generating more than $950 billion in annual revenues, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs left three individuals who had committed serious acts of abuse or neglect against vulnerable New Yorkers off a registry, a list of individuals prohibited from holding jobs that involve direct care of patients, according to an audit released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The average bonus paid in New York City’s security industry declined by 9 percent to $146,200 in 2015 as industry-wide profits declined by 10.5 percent, according to an estimate released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

A former justice court clerk pleaded guilty to petit larceny after a joint investigation by the Office of the State Comptroller and the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department found she misappropriated more than $10,000 in court fees, said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL KLEIN, the former treasurer of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department ("MVFD”), was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel to 77 months in prison for wire fraud, subscription to false tax returns, obstruction of the grand jury, and false statement charges arising out of his embezzlement of more than $5.6 million from the MVFD.

The former Ellery Justice Court Clerk, who was fired for stealing court fines, was sentenced today to five years prohibition and full restitution of $63,636 in Chautauqua County Court, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Sharon Thompson, 56, of Bemus Point, pleaded guilty to grand larceny last June and agreed to pay full restitution. The missing money was uncovered in an audit and investigation by DiNapoli’s office.

The percentage of school districts initially planning to override New York’s property tax cap in 2016-17 has nearly doubled when compared to last year, but still remains relatively small, according to preliminary data filed with the office of State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. As of March 2nd, 6 percent, or 36, of the 601 school districts that reported, indicated that they will seek an override of the tax cap. Last year, 3.5 percent, indicated plans to override the tax cap.

"The failure to enact procurement reform was a missed opportunity to protect taxpayers’ dollars and prevent corruption. Enhancing independent oversight of state contracting, especially with regard to economic development spending, is needed to ensure accountability and transparency. I hope the Legislature will consider the clean contracting proposal when they reconvene."