New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the arrest of the former treasurer of Pulteney Fire District #2 in Steuben County. Lisa Stone, 44 of Hammondsport, was charged with grand larceny in the third degree (class D felony) and falsifying business records after an audit and investigation by DiNapoli’s office uncovered the misappropriation of more than $5,000 in public funds.

Stone confessed to DiNapoli’s staff and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department that she wrote herself extra salary checks and made personal purchases using district funds.

A former state contractor who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges earlier this year, as a result of a joint investigation by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara, was sentenced today to a year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a total of $721,112 in restitution and criminal forfeiture.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli made the following statement on the eve of Rosh Hashanah:

“Tonight marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the commencement of the Jewish High Holy Days. 

“As families and communities gather together to celebrate, we have time to reflect on last year and look forward to the new year. Rosh Hashanah is a time of sweetness and joy, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends in the Jewish community a happy, peaceful, prosperous and healthy New Year. 

L'Shana Tovah!”

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office reviewed 1,804 contracts valued at $4.3 billion and approved 1.2 million payments totaling $8.6 billion in August. His office also rejected 190 contracts and related transactions valued at $2.9 billion and more than 1,000 payments valued at nearly $2.5 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

State tax collections through the first five months of the state fiscal year were $26.9 billion,  $119.3 million higher than projected in the latest Financial Plan update but 1.3 percent less than the same period last year, according to the August cash report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Local law enforcement agencies are not always taking immediate action when notified that convicted sex offenders have failed to comply with the state’s Sex Offender Registry Act, according to an audit issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. As a result, the state’s Registry is not always accurate and up-to-date.

Stony Brook University Hospital’s Health Information Management Department repeatedly failed to comply with state guidelines and university policies related to contracting, vendor monitoring, and hiring or promotions, possibly costing taxpayers nearly $1 million, according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced his office completed audits of the Malta Ridge Volunteer Fire Company, Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority and the Town of Stockton.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued a statement on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks: 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF or the Fund) has created a $2 billion strategic partnership with Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) to invest in a diverse group of global equity strategies viewed as having strong potential to enhance the Fund’s return. The partnership is the first of its kind for the Fund.