BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — Former Pharsalia Town Supervisor Dennis Brown was sentenced to serve up to three years in a state prison for stealing $240,000 in public funds. Pharsalia is in Chenango County.
A joint investigation conducted by New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office, state police and the Cortland County District Attorney Patrick Perfetti found Brown had inflated his income illegally and used the town's credit card for personal use, including for groceries, vacations, clothes, jewelry, home utilities, and work on his property.
"Not only was there theft of a considerable amount of money from the Town of Pharsalia, but there was also a significant violation of the public trust, as Mr. Brown had been a long-serving government official for Pharsalia in the role of Town Supervisor, when he committed his crimes,” said Perfetti.
Brown pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the second degree. According to DiNapoli, Brown was also ordered to pay the money back and has already paid $125,000.
Brown was in office for 35 years before losing an election in 2019. He was arrested April of that year while a paid member of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors, serving on the finance and public works committees.