ALEXANDRIA, N.Y. — The former town clerk in the town of Alexandria in Jefferson County is under arrest, accused of stealing more than $36,000 in public funds and pocketing the cash.
Ellen Peck, 64, of Alexandria Bay is charged with grand larceny following the theft of money that residents paid for fines, fees, and surcharges, the office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a news release issued Monday.
DiNapoli’s office uncovered Peck’s “misdeeds” in an audit and investigation in partnership with the New York State Police, DiNapoli’s office said. The Town of Alexandria had requested the investigation.
The audit and investigation revealed that Peck had placed $20,000 in town funds back into the town’s bank accounts after she retired.
“Ms. Peck marred a 36-year career as a public servant by allegedly pocketing fees paid by her neighbors,” DiNapoli said in the release. “Hopefully, her arrest will deter others from such corruption. I thank the [New York] State Police for their work on this case.”
DiNapoli’s office is currently auditing the town’s finances.
The investigation and audit found that Peck, allegedly pocketed cash for transfer-station fees, arena fees, real-property surcharges, and clerk fees before retiring in 2014.
She had collected funds for both the Town of Alexandria and the Village of Alexandria Bay, DiNapoli’s office said.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com