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

DiNapoli: Springport Town Clerk Pleads Guilty After Faking Retirement Benefits

August 31, 2017

Springport Town Clerk Deborah Waldron pleaded guilty Wednesday in Aurelius Town Court to official misconduct and attempted computer trespass, and agreed to resign for her attempts to boost her state retirement benefits by using a town computer, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said.

Waldron, 62, a 25-year town employee, was initially charged in May following an investigation by the Comptroller, New York State Police and the Cayuga County District Attorney’s office. Her actions were exposed during the Comptroller’s review of Springport’s monthly retirement reports. When DiNapoli’s office re-calculated her actual hours and benefits, it prevented Waldron from receiving extra money she did not earn.

"This case is a warning to any public employee who falsifies retirement records: You are risking arrest and tarnishing your reputation," DiNapoli said. "I hope this case will deter others who attempt to defraud the New York State and Local Retirement System. I thank Cayuga County District Attorney Jon E. Budelmann for partnering with us to protect our retirement system."

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. Review prior cases at http://www.osc.state.ny.us/investigations.