Watertown Daily Times
MORLEY, N.Y. — Cindi Perkins, former treasurer for the Morley Volunteer Fire Company, pleaded guilty in St. Lawrence County Court to fourth-degree grand larceny, the state comptroller’s office announced Wednesday.
Perkins admitted to stealing more than $16,000 from the company over three years, according to a news release.
Perkins worked for the fire department from 2016 to 2019 and made unauthorized cash withdrawals, did not deposit fire company funds, made unauthorized purchases and wrote unauthorized checks to herself, the comptroller’s office says.
The comptroller says that the money was a combination of payments from the town of Canton and the Morley Fire District in addition to fundraising dollars.
“Ms. Perkins was entrusted with money meant to protect her community. Instead, she betrayed the fire company and her neighbors by enriching herself,” Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said in the news release. “Combatting fraud and protecting taxpayer money is a priority of mine, and I thank St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua and the New York State Police for partnering with my office to bring her to justice.”
The investigators found that she made more than $16,000 in personal cash deposits after similar amounts were paid to the Morley Volunteer Fire Company, according to the news release.
ATM withdrawals were also made from the fire department accounts at Del Lago Resort and Casino and Turning Stone Resort Casino.
Perkins used the stolen money for groceries, makeup and other retail consumer items, the release states.
Perkins is due back in court on Jan. 3 for sentencing.
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