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NEWS from the Office of the New York State Comptroller
Contact: Press Office 518-474-4015

DiNapoli: Former Pulteney Fire District Treasurer Sentenced in $6,800 Theft of Fire District Funds

July 23, 2015

Lisa Stone, the former treasurer of Pulteney Fire District No. 2 was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay full restitution for stealing more than $6,800 in fire district funds, after an audit and investigation by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli revealed that she paid herself an illegal second salary.

“This public servant was able to write herself extra paychecks because no one else was checking the books,” DiNapoli said. “The ultimate safety net for all fire districts is to use fiscal checks and balances. I thank Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office for working with us to bring Ms. Stone to justice.”

Stone, 45, of Hammondsport, was sentenced by Steuben County Court Judge Marianne Furfure. As treasurer, Stone was the district’s chief fiscal officer. She pleaded guilty to grand larceny in May after confessing to DiNapoli’s staff and the Sheriff’s office that she wrote herself extra paychecks and used district funds to buy tools for her husband’s business.

To read the final audit report, click here:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/firedists/2015/pulteneyno2.pdf.

Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at [email protected], or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 14th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.