KINGSTON, N.Y. — A former fire official was sentenced to prison after stealing nearly $240,000 from a fire district.
Record Online reported that Michael Denardo, a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Wallkill (N.Y.) Fire District, was sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.
“This was a shameful crime of someone sworn to protect the public,” State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said. “It is also a warning to fire district officials throughout New York: Always safeguard your assets with checks and balances.”
Denardo was also ordered to pay $239,622 restitution.
His three-year scam was revealed in an audit, which found he convinced the treasurer to give him blank checks and another board member to sign them. He deposited the checks, laundered the money through his wife’s account and submitted fake bills to the district.
He also admitted to tax fraud on his filings for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
“I thank the comptroller and his staff for their diligent work on this case,” District Attorney Holley Carnright said.
Denardo pleaded guilty in September to grand larceny and three counts of criminal tax fraud.