3 days ago
Former Essex County Fair treasurer pleads guilty to taking thousands
ELIZABETHTOWN — Former Essex County Fair treasurer and former Willsboro town clerk Bridget Brown recently pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $90,000 from the fair and her town.
She will be sentenced by Hamilton County Judge Tatiana Coffinger, specially presiding in Essex County Court, on Friday, July 25.
Brown, age 41, of Reber Road, Willsboro, pleaded guilty to felony 2nd-degree grand larceny for the funds stolen from the fair and felony 3rd-degree grand larceny as a crime of public corruption for to the theft from the Town Willsboro.
Brown took $60,000 from the fair and $29,000 from the Town of Willsboro, an investigation showed. As a part of a negotiated plea agreement, Brown is expected to be sentenced to five years probation and required to pay full restitution back to the town and the fair.
The Franklin County District Attorney's Office served as special prosecutor, with Executive Assistant District Attorney Alyxandra Stanczak assigned. The Essex County District Attorney's Office had recused itself from the case due to a conflict of interest.
A routine state audit of the Essex County Agricultural Society, which runs the fair, revealed the missing funds, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said.
'Bridget Brown exploited the trust of her community and used her two positions to enrich herself at taxpayer expense,' DiNapoli said in a statement. 'My thanks to Franklin County District Attorney (Elizabeth) Crawford and (NYSP) Superintendent (Steven) James for their partnership in fighting public corruption and holding Bridget Brown accountable.'
Brown was Willsboro town clerk from 2014 to 2021, when she lost election to a write-in candidate after her indictment. She work for the fair from 2013 to 2019.
James said Brown 'financially decimated' the Essex County Fair.
'The fair has thankfully been able to persist despite Ms. Brown's theft,' James said in a statement. 'Ms. Brown violated the public trust by disregarding the law and stealing funds she was not entitled to. We will continue to aggressively investigate any case that involves public corruption.
'I want to commend our State Police members, the Comptroller's Office, and Franklin County District Attorney's Office for their assistance in making sure she will no longer be able to take advantage of those who put their trust in her.'
State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigator investigators found that while employed with the Agricultural Society, Brown overpaid herself and made unauthorized ATM withdrawals and personal purchases using the society's bank account. She also exploited $5,300 of society funds to repay a personal loan. To cover up her thefts, she falsified the fair's business records.
Brown also obtained an unauthorized $20,000 bank loan on behalf of the fair, which the society's board was unaware of and did not approve, in order to cover up her thefts.
Because of her actions as the fair treasurer, the State Comptroller's Office examined her activities as town clerk for the Town of Willsboro.
An investigation and forensic audit showed that during Brown's tenure as town clerk/tax collector, she stole $29,000 from taxes, licenses and landfill fees by pocketing cash payments rather than depositing the funds into the town's account.
The forensic analysis discovered that on days when Brown collected cash for the town there were corresponding almost identical cash deposits into her personal bank account.
Franklin County District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford praised the Comptroller's Office and State Police for their work on a complex case.
'Thanks to the Comptroller's Office, especially the forensic analysts and the attorneys who provided their time and expertise through the investigation, indictment, and in preparation for trial,' Crawford said in a statement. 'As public officials ourselves, we understand the trust placed in government organizations. We are proud to uphold our oaths to bring a just result to this case, holding Bridget Brown accountable for her betrayal of the public trust when she used her position as tax assessor (collector) and town clerk to steal from the taxpayers of the Town of Willsboro.'
