An upstate village clerk accused of embezzling over $1 million, equivalent to the town’s annual budget, has agreed to forfeit her pension in a landmark case in New York.
Former Addison employee Ursula Stone, 55, allegedly stole $1,171,362 in village funds over a period of 19 years and has become the first politician in New York to give up her pension under anti-corruption laws, as announced by state and county officials.
Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker described the case as a shocking breach of public trust and credited the State Comptroller’s staff for detecting the embezzlement.
Stone appeared in Steuben County Court and agreed to forfeit her monthly pension of $1,920, as reported by The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli noted that this was New York’s first pension forfeiture under anti-corruption measures implemented in recent years.
An audit conducted in 2022 revealed that Stone had been managing the village’s finances without oversight, granting herself unauthorized benefits and misusing funds.
She allegedly manipulated payroll, leave records, and insurance payouts for personal gain and cashed checks meant for the village and school district.
Stone resigned in 2023 after authorities uncovered her scheme, but not before attempting to cash one last unauthorized check.
DiNapoli commended the collaboration between his office, the District Attorney’s Office, and the State Police in bringing Stone to justice.
Stone contested the amount she embezzled, but she remains held on bail and is scheduled to appear in court in January.
