THROOP, N.Y. — A former supervisor of the Town of Throop in Cayuga County has been arrested and pled guilty Thursday to stealing nearly $11,000 from the town over a two-year period.
William Tarby, 58, pled guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and official misconduct. As part of his plea agreement, he will pay full restitution and cannot seek public office again.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the New York State Police announced the guilty plea.
Tarby pled guilty in Cayuga County Court before Judge Thomas Leone. Sentencing was scheduled for April 18.
“Mr. Tarby violated the public trust by disregarding the law and stealing from town funds,” Dominick Chiumento, acting superintendent of the New York State Police, said in a release. “The prosecution of this individual sends a strong message that we will not tolerate such corruption when a public servant seeks to use their position to profit at the expense of taxpayers and the local community.”
Tarby served as the town supervisor of Throop (located north of Auburn) from 2004-2019. In 2020, DiNapoli’s office launched an audit of the town which found “financial irregularities.” A subsequent investigation found that Tarby pocketed $11,000 in town funding between January 2017 and December 2019.
Investigators determined Tarby made unauthorized cash withdrawals from Town of Throop bank accounts, took cash back on checks made out to the town, and kept for himself cash paid to the town for scrap metal, fines and the sale of equipment, among other things, per DiNapoli’s office.
“William Tarby exploited his position with the town to pay off personal debts and make home improvements,” DiNapoli said. “Thanks to the work of my office, his crimes were uncovered, and he is being held accountable. I’d like to thank Attorney General James and the New York State Police for their work in partnering with us to bring him to justice.”