Former Horseheads assistant clerk charged with stealing almost $4K in village funds

HORSEHEADS, N.Y. — A former assistant clerk for the Village of Horseheads has been charged with allegedly stealing nearly $4,000 from the village.

The arrest resulted from a joint investigation between New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office, the Chemung County District Attorney’s office, and the New York State Police.

Tammy Miele, 49, was charged with grand larceny and corrupting the government, both felonies, according to a release from the comptroller’s office. She served as an assistant clerk for the Village of Horseheads from 2017-2022. During that time, Miele accepted cash payments for the village, including payments from multiple residents for their water bills.

The joint investigation, along with forensic analysis, revealed she accepted cash payments but never deposited the cash into the village’s bank account. Instead, Miele allegedly altered the village’s accounting system to delete any balances owed by those residents and pocketed the money.

According to DiNapoli’s office, Miele is charged with stealing $3,548 between September 2017 through September 2022. Additionally, she is also accused of using more than $450 in village funds to pay her personal New York State Electric and Gas bill. The village terminated Miele’s employment in September 2022.

“Ms. Miele allegedly used her position to defraud the village of Horseheads for her personal gain and altered village records to cover her theft,” DiNapoli said in the release. “My office’s investigation and our partnership with District Attorney [Weeden] Wetmore and the State Police have ensured that she will now be held accountable for her actions.”

Miele was arraigned in the Village of Elmira Heights Court before Judge Christopher Pelchar and is scheduled to appear again Sept. 6.

“This arrest should serve as a reminder that those who choose to abuse their positions will be brought to justice,” State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said. “The arrest of this individual sends a strong message that we will not tolerate dishonest actions by those who use their position at the expense of the public.”