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Comptroller DiNapoli and Attorney General James Announce the Arrest and Indictment of Mount Vernon Corporation Counsel in $365,000 Corruption Scheme

WESTCHESTER – New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrest and indictment of the City of Mount Vernon Corporation Counsel Lawrence Porcari for abusing his position as a public official by engaging in a scheme that defrauded the Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply of $365,000 to pay the personal legal expenses of the Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and a public relations firm.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced the following local government audits have been issued.

Town of Farmersville – Justice Court Operations (Cattaraugus County)

Auditors found that fines and fees were generally recorded accurately and deposited in a timely manner. The justices submitted monthly reports and remitted all fines and fees to the appropriate parties. However, monthly bank reconciliations and accountabilities were not consistently prepared.

Chautauqua County Asst. Treasurer Guilty in $4,100 Theft

The assistant treasurer for the Chautauqua County Water and Soil District pleaded guilty today to stealing $4,100 in county funds, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Debra Kelley pocketed cash fees she collected from the public, instead of depositing them in the bank. DiNapoli’s office discovered the gap during an audit and investigation and partnered with Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson in the criminal investigation.

DiNapoli Announces Elliott Auerbach to Oversee Local Government Division

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today that he has appointed Elliott Auerbach as deputy comptroller for the Division of Local Government and School Accountability.

Auerbach will head the division responsible for monitoring the finances of local governments and school districts. He will manage auditing and budget reviews, training local officials, assigning fiscal stress scores to local communities, and studying issues facing local governments. He will direct seven regional offices and a staff of more than 300.

Pekin Fire Co. President Dipped Into Bell Jar

Former Pekin Fire Company President Lawrence Amacher Jr. was arrested today for allegedly stealing $1,800 from the company’s bell jar collection for his personal use, and falsifying records to hide his theft, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Amacher, 49, of Sanborn, in Niagara County, allegedly withdrew $1,800 from the company’s bell jar account and falsely submitted the required New York State Gaming Commission reports in 2014 and 2015, which misrepresented his use of the funds.