A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN ANNOUNCES SENTENCING OF FORMER NORTH COUNTRY TOWN CLERK FOR STEALING PUBLIC MONEY
Attorney General’s Public Integrity Investigation Ends With Sentencing Of Public Official
Schneiderman: Public Officials Can't Get Away With Using Their Positions To Steal From Taxpayers
WATERTOWN - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the sentencing of Jeri Mason, a former Town Clerk for Cape Vincent, who was convicted of stealing nearly $30,000 from the town. In October 2011, Mason pleaded guilty to Defrauding the Government (a class E felony) and Official Misconduct.
Earlier today, in Jefferson County Court, the Honorable Judge Kim Martusewicz sentenced Mason to five years probation. Mason's probation and non-incarceration had been contingent upon her paying back the full amount of the theft. The judge informed Mason that he may be inclined to give her a sentence without jail time if Mason were to pay full restitution. Mason has paid the town of Cape Vincent $29,872.
"Ms. Mason abused the privilege of serving in public office and now must pay back the people she fleeced," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "As a result of our public integrity investigation, she is being held accountable for the crime of using her position to steal money from taxpayers. My office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute such cases to ensure there is one set of rules for everyone in this state."
From April 2009 to September 2010, Jeri Mason engaged in a fraudulent scheme that involved falsely representing the amount of revenue the Town was collecting Mason conducted this scheme while acting in her capacity as the Town Clerk, an elected position. Mason falsified monthly reports that reflected the amount of money she collected for the Town. The investigation began after it was revealed that Mason stole money that should have been remitted to the Town.
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| Former Town Clerk, Jeri Mason during her 2009 campaign. |
The Attorney General thanked the New York State Police for its cooperation in this investigation.
The case is being handled by Colleen M. Glavin, Assistant Attorney General and Public Integrity Officer, under the supervision of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Nancy Hoppock, Public Integrity Bureau Chief William E. Schaeffer and Deputy Chief Stacy Aronowitz. Investigator Scott Petucci under Supervising Investigator Antoine Karam assisted with the investigation of the case.
Anyone with information on public corruption is encouraged to contact the Attorney General’s office at (315) 785-2444.
19 comments:
Poor kid. Obviously a victim of inbreeding. Tries to help out a few people and fudge the books and look what happens. No jail time for one of the worst small time crooks the AG had time and resources to prosecute. Yay. The world is a better place again. That young man was right, the world isn't going to hell in a hand basket. The system is clean again.
five years probation ?
This was a bonafide crime. WTF !!!
what a friggin joke .
She now works for the feds. Another plant in the community to provide intel for those who want to have complete control over local politics. Which means no one should trust her on either side. She is now a walking outcast. So she gained nothing. She is now owned and operated by the federal government. She serves her time one way or the other. Would you want to be in her shoes now? I don't think so.
Welcome to Project Adam, Jeri.
SAY IT ISN'T SO .... IS THIS CAPE VINCENT'S VERY OWN " JERI O "
GOOD JOB JERI.... YOU ESCAPED THE SLAMMER, THIS TIME !!!!!!
Let's make a purse out of a sow's ear. Take the $30,000 in Jeri Ann's restitution and use it to bring another business like Metal Craft to Cape Vincent.
$30,000 won't bring a lot to the Cape, but it might help out the school budget.
Those kids need a sign that the community has their interest at heart more than the cynical corporate whores who want to use them as an excuse. Wouldn't you think? Fund the food pantry. That would be a very good thing. There are some excellent uses for the money, and some good public relations can go a long way to restoring public confidence. Show the community that the community matters. isn't that what it's all about? My guess is other intelligent people have already thought of these things. It's not as though the money is a gift. It was supposed to be used for these things anyway. Better late than never.
Very disturbing is that the theft was going on during the Rienbeck, Mason, Mason and Orvis administration.
These are the same guys who were upset about Mr. Hirschey and Bragdon wanting to do an audit.
This guy should have come work for Rienbeck, Mason, Mason and Orvis.
Charles Carter will spend a minimum of three years in prison for robbing a bank in downtown Watertown last March.
The 22 year old former Watertown man admitted holding up Carthage Federal Savings and Loan.
He stole $2,100 - money he's required to return.
Cape Vincent prison is full of poor bastards who got caught smoking a joint in NYC. Minor crimes. Oh well, at least all those Cape Prison residents are behind bars and safe from being fleeced by Jeri Mason.
A.G. Schneiderman should be embarrassed. For all his puffed up rhetoric about rooting out corruption and holding violators accountable to the citizenry, this probation sentence for G. Mason is an insult to that very citizenry. His campaign to return integrity to government will be nothing more than a paper tiger if this is his idea of justice.
You get a harsher sentence for DWI than Geri got for defrauding the public and stealing our money.
She got off easy and she still walks around town like she thinks she owns the place.
I saw her handling the money recently at the fire company dinner.
I guess we will never learn.
Once a Mason always a Mason.
Another foul up in Hirscheyville. He didn't kiss the AG's ass enough to get her jail time.
Well at least Kim M didnt recluse himself like in the Murder case w/a jeep.
Get a grip folks. The Attorney General is not responsible for sentencing. That falls into the hands of the judge so put the blame on the right person. Smoking a joint is a violation punishable by a maximum of 10 days and I highly doubt that CV Correctional Facility has any convicted pot smokers sentenced there.
Any comparison to a bank robbery is just more of the same stupid comments. Mason didn't commit robbery she committed a larceny a very big difference. That all being said, the sentence sends a bad message, should have included some jail time.
very well said 11:23,I agree.
Yeah, not even 30 days. Must be they know the judge.
Was Merrill the judge?
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