Fomer Oneida city chamberlain arrested for stealing nearly $79K in city funds

ONEIDA, N.Y. — A former Oneida city chamberlain was recently arrested for allegedly stealing almost $79,000 from the city over the course of 14 years.

Nancy Andrews, 77, was arrested and charged with grand larceny, corrupting the government, falsifying business records, and tampering with public records, according to an Oct. 19 announcement from state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Madison County District Attorney William G. Gabor, and the New York State Police.

Officials accuse Andrews of stealing $78,881.55 in tax, water, and sewer payments made in cash between 2012 and 2020 and concealing the thefts by applying one property owner’s payment to another. She allegedly spent the funds on social outings and pull-tab games at the American Legion Hall in Oneida, according to a news release from the comptroller’s office. She served as the city’s chamberlain from 1998 until her term expired in 2021.

Andrews was arraigned in Oneida City Court before Judge Michael J. Misiaszek and is due back in court on Nov. 10.

“For over a decade, Andrews allegedly betrayed her office and the trust of her community to fund her social life and gamble with public money,” DiNapoli said. “This was a blatant abuse of her office and an affront to Oneida taxpayers.”

Gabor said the district attorney’s office will aggressively prosecute the case as an alleged violation of public trust by an elected official. 

“Public officials are rightly held to a higher standard, and there must be a higher level of accountability of any proven act of stealing from taxpayers,” he said.

“We have zero tolerance for government officials who take advantage of their position to steal from taxpayers,” New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said. “We must continue to hold our public officials to a higher standard.”