Local

President of Gingerbread Learning Center and Wife Sentenced for Stealing Approximately $771,000 from Special Needs Pre-School

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon today announced that Dennis Mosesman, 71, and Elsie Mosesman, 72, have been sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay full restitution and asset forfeiture after previously pleading guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.

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.