Former mechanic at State Police garage admits to theft

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. — A former civilian mechanic who maintained New York State Police vehicles has pleaded guilty to corrupting the government in the third degree after charging auto parts for his personal business to a State Police account.

That’s according to a Thursday news release from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The mechanic — Jeffrey Rapasadi, 57 — is the second man to be charged and plead guilty following an investigation led by DiNapoli, Madison County District Attorney William Gabor, and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen. The first — David Relyea, 64 — pleaded guilty in early September to the same felony charge as Rapasadi and was placed on interim probation. Relyea paid back $20,000 as part of his plea deal.

Rapasadi, of Canastota, had been contracted to maintain the vehicle fleet from the New York State Police Troop D headquarters in Oneida for more than 30 years, per DiNapoli’s release. Relyea and Rapasadi retired in late 2020 during the state’s investigation. The investigation found more than $54,000 in “inappropriate purchases” of parts and tools charged by United Auto Supply to the State Police account between 2015 and 2020.

The investigation by DiNapoli’s office in concert with the district attorney and State Police uncovered the fraudulent charges by forensically analyzing thousands of invoices, which revealed purchases of parts not intended for use on State Police vehicles, DiNapoli said in a May news release. Parts purchased included those for Mercedes-Benz cars, which are not owned by the State Police.

Rapasadi paid $12,865 in restitution as part of his plea deal and. like Relyea. was placed on interim probation ahead of his sentencing.

In addition to a third-degree corrupting the government felony, Rapasadi pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petit larceny. He and Relyea are due back in Madison County Court in December for sentencing.

“Mr. Rapasadi betrayed the taxpayers by stealing resources meant to protect the public to fund his personal interests,” DiNapoli said in his release.

State Police Superintendent Bruen added, ““This person was entrusted with maintaining a fleet of patrol vehicles used by State Troopers, but our investigation uncovered that he was using State Police resources for personal use including operation of a side business,” said Superintendent Bruen. “Integrity is a core value of our agency, and any employee found to be breaking the law will be held fully accountable.”