Corruption case against former Pharsalia supervisor seeks payback of public funds
CHENANGO COUNTY – The corruption case against one of Chenango County's longest serving town supervisors, Dennis Brown, is proceeding slowly as prosecutors and defense attorneys argue over a possible plea deal and the paying back of $123,000 in allegedly stolen public funds.
Former Pharsalia Town Supervisor Dennis Brown's term ended last year and he did not seek reelection. According to information provided by the Chenango County Board of supervisors, Brown was one of the longest serving members of the board, holding a seat for the last 35 years. He was granted retirement and healthcare benefits from the state and county that would be entitled to any long-term serving public servant when he stepped down, confirmed county officials Tuesday.
It has been about 11 months since Brown was arrested and few new developments have taken place in court. Brown has pleaded not guilty. Calls to his defense attorney Scott J. Clippinger for comment were not returned for this story.
“This is something that took place over a number of years. There is a lot to go through and we're trying to work toward a resolution to include taxpayer reimbursement and justice being served,” said Cortland Assistant District Attorney Victoria J. Monty. She said the case had recently been slowed by medical concerns, but she predicted that in the next month either a plea deal would be agreed too or charges would be filed and handed up for trial.
She said prosecutors wanted the money back and for Brown to plea guilty to a felony. “We will have an agreement to proceed with SCI [Superior Court Information], with a felony plea and restitution, or we will present to the grand jury very soon,” said Monty. Monty said the defense had waived their right to a speedy trial. She said the DA's office wanted to move forward with the case.
The Cortland County District Attorney's Office took over the case after local prosecutors recused themselves. Part of Brown’s duties as supervisor included overseeing financing related to the Chenango County DA's Office.
Up until January, Brown was still a member of the county’s finance and public works committees. However county officials said Brown had not attended any meeting in a official capacity since the New York State Police announced his arrest in April 2019.
On April 10, 2019 the New York State Comptroller's Office announced it had discovered Pharsalia Town funds were missing following a year-long audit. The office said a criminal investigation by New York State Police found Brown had been using his public position to steal public funds to pay for his personal lifestyle, pad his salary, and pay his bills.
Brown, 71, of South Plymouth, is charged with 2nd degree grand larceny, scheme to defraud, defrauding the government, corrupting the government and public corruption.
Prosecutors said Brown had been allowed to remain out of jail because the crime was not violent in nature, the defendant's age, ties to the local community, and ongoing medical needs.
“We anticipate a felony conviction here,” said Monty. She explained that under state law Brown would not be able to hold a public office once convicted of a felony. “Certainly we are considering the fact that this is a crime against the people he was supposed to be representing and protecting. It has to be a factor.”
According to court records between 2013 and 2018, Brown wrote checks to himself on behalf of the Town of Pharsalia worth about $61,000. Investigators said he used the money to pay debts.
Also, according to the court documents “...by writing checks from the General Fund to himself as extra salary, and by buying materials to build a shed on his property from funds taken from the Town General Fund. This course of action occurred over several years without the consent or approval of the town board.”
According to court records Brown allegedly used the funds to also increase his salary by an additional $20,000 a year, stealing a total of $40,000.
In April 2019 Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said, “Since 2010, Mr. Brown allegedly cheated his neighbors out of over a hundred thousand dollars by using public funds for his pleasure and daily expenses.”
According to DiNapoli, Brown allegedly used the town’s credit card to spend at least $123,273 in total, funding his personal lifestyle, including vacations in Myrtle Beach and New York City, fees for PayPal, Amazon and iTunes, and designer handbags, liquor and cooking classes. Brown also allegedly used town funds to pay all of his home telephone, internet and electric bills.
Former Pharsalia Town Supervisor Dennis Brown's term ended last year and he did not seek reelection. According to information provided by the Chenango County Board of supervisors, Brown was one of the longest serving members of the board, holding a seat for the last 35 years. He was granted retirement and healthcare benefits from the state and county that would be entitled to any long-term serving public servant when he stepped down, confirmed county officials Tuesday.
It has been about 11 months since Brown was arrested and few new developments have taken place in court. Brown has pleaded not guilty. Calls to his defense attorney Scott J. Clippinger for comment were not returned for this story.
“This is something that took place over a number of years. There is a lot to go through and we're trying to work toward a resolution to include taxpayer reimbursement and justice being served,” said Cortland Assistant District Attorney Victoria J. Monty. She said the case had recently been slowed by medical concerns, but she predicted that in the next month either a plea deal would be agreed too or charges would be filed and handed up for trial.
She said prosecutors wanted the money back and for Brown to plea guilty to a felony. “We will have an agreement to proceed with SCI [Superior Court Information], with a felony plea and restitution, or we will present to the grand jury very soon,” said Monty. Monty said the defense had waived their right to a speedy trial. She said the DA's office wanted to move forward with the case.
The Cortland County District Attorney's Office took over the case after local prosecutors recused themselves. Part of Brown’s duties as supervisor included overseeing financing related to the Chenango County DA's Office.
Up until January, Brown was still a member of the county’s finance and public works committees. However county officials said Brown had not attended any meeting in a official capacity since the New York State Police announced his arrest in April 2019.
On April 10, 2019 the New York State Comptroller's Office announced it had discovered Pharsalia Town funds were missing following a year-long audit. The office said a criminal investigation by New York State Police found Brown had been using his public position to steal public funds to pay for his personal lifestyle, pad his salary, and pay his bills.
Brown, 71, of South Plymouth, is charged with 2nd degree grand larceny, scheme to defraud, defrauding the government, corrupting the government and public corruption.
Prosecutors said Brown had been allowed to remain out of jail because the crime was not violent in nature, the defendant's age, ties to the local community, and ongoing medical needs.
“We anticipate a felony conviction here,” said Monty. She explained that under state law Brown would not be able to hold a public office once convicted of a felony. “Certainly we are considering the fact that this is a crime against the people he was supposed to be representing and protecting. It has to be a factor.”
According to court records between 2013 and 2018, Brown wrote checks to himself on behalf of the Town of Pharsalia worth about $61,000. Investigators said he used the money to pay debts.
Also, according to the court documents “...by writing checks from the General Fund to himself as extra salary, and by buying materials to build a shed on his property from funds taken from the Town General Fund. This course of action occurred over several years without the consent or approval of the town board.”
According to court records Brown allegedly used the funds to also increase his salary by an additional $20,000 a year, stealing a total of $40,000.
In April 2019 Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said, “Since 2010, Mr. Brown allegedly cheated his neighbors out of over a hundred thousand dollars by using public funds for his pleasure and daily expenses.”
According to DiNapoli, Brown allegedly used the town’s credit card to spend at least $123,273 in total, funding his personal lifestyle, including vacations in Myrtle Beach and New York City, fees for PayPal, Amazon and iTunes, and designer handbags, liquor and cooking classes. Brown also allegedly used town funds to pay all of his home telephone, internet and electric bills.
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