Former Minerva clerk pleads guilty to grand larceny
Jordan Green, the former clerk to the Minerva town supervisor, pled guilty to fourth degree grand larceny, official misconduct and tampering with public records, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced on Friday.
Green, 30, faces up to four years in prison on the felony grand larceny charge and one year each on the misdemeanor charges of official misconduct and tampering with public records. In addition, she may be required to pay restitution and fees. She is due back in court for sentencing on Sept. 11.
“Ms. Green used the public’s coffers as her personal bank account. Thanks to our investigators and auditors, this fraud was exposed.” DiNapoli said. “I thank Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague and the New York State Police for their work and partnership in combating public corruption.”
As the clerk to the supervisor, Green was responsible for processing payroll, calculating employee benefits and collecting payments to the town.
The comptroller said his office’s investigation and audit revealed that Green, during the course of her official duties, funneled more than $9,000 to her own bank account from the town’s payroll account.
DiNapoli’s office also found that Green, who is a member of the state’s retirement system, used town funds to pay back loans she took from the retirement system of more than $1,500. Green also directed more than $1,000 in town funds to pay medical contributions instead of making deductions from her paycheck.
Green, an employee of the town of Minerva since July 2010, resigned in April 2015, a month after an investigation by the Comptroller’s office was launched.
DiNapoli’s audits and investigations have led to more than 150 arrests and more than $50 million in restitutions since 2011.
“I commend the Comptroller’s Office and all of our partners who had a role in exposing this fraud,” state Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said in a statement. “The prosecution of this individual sends a strong message that we will not tolerate such corruption and when a public servant seeks to use their position to profit at the expense of the taxpayers and the local community, they will be held accountable for their crimes and prosecuted appropriately.”