Former Addison Village Clerk Sentenced to Prison
BATH, NY (WENY) -- The former Addison Village clerk who stole more than a million dollars in funds was sentenced Wednesday to time in prison.
Ursula Stone, 56, will spend three to nine years in state prison for the theft, which spanned almost two decades. Stone's sentencing was rescheduled to August 7, after the judge overseeing the case was unable to appear last week.
In addition to the prison term, Stone will be ordered to pay restitution, though an amount has not been set. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for September.
The former village clerk pleaded guilty in May 2024 to one count of first degree Corrupting the Government. She was initially charged with 192 felony counts in November of 2023, for stealing $1.1 million in village funds between January of 2004 and April of 2023.
According to authorities, Stone prepared payroll, maintained manual leave records, processed health insurance buyouts and unused leave payment with no oversight. The New York State Comptroller's office says Stone stole checks from the Addison Central School District payable to the village, along with dozens of other checks over the years, converting them to certified bank checks and cashing them.
Additionally, Stone gave herself unauthorized pay raises, took time off without deducting it from leave credits, cashed out unused vacation time since 2004, wrote herself checks, and made $73,666 in unauthorized payments to other employees in the form of an insurance buyout and a separation payment.
In addition to the restitution, Stone will forfeit her public pension; the first time a public official in New York State will be required to do so as part of his or her sentence.
Stone resigned as village clerk in March of 2023, during the investigation by the New York State Comptroller's office.