Comptroller Pleads Guilty to Stealing City Funds

NEWBURGH – State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced Monday that, John Aber, 49, of Staten Island, pleaded guilty before Orange County Court Judge Robert H. Freehill, to grand larceny in the fourth degree, for having stolen money while he was the comptroller of the city of Newburgh. At the time he pleaded guilty, Aber admitted that between August 2013 and December 2016, he used his position as city comptroller to steal money collected from boat-launch fees in the city of Newburgh.

Aber is scheduled to be sentence on September 14, 2017. Aber agreed prior to being sentenced to pay restitution to the city of Newburgh in the amount $9,570.

“Mr. Aber was entrusted with safeguarding the city’s finances; instead he used his position as city comptroller to enrich himself at the expense of the taxpayers,” DiNapoli said.  “I thank District Attorney Hoovler and the city of Newburgh police for their diligence and commitment to partnering to fight public corruption.”

“There is simply never an excuse for an official to steal public money,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “The City of Newburgh Comptroller was entrusted with these funds, so that they could be used for the benefit of the City.  The abuse of that trust which resulted in him converting the funds to his own use is a serious matter.  My office will continue to prosecute any theft of public monies.  I thank the city of Newburgh police department for their investigation and the arrest of John Aber. I also thank the Office of the New York State Comptroller for their help in this case and look forward to continuing to work with Comptroller DiNapoli to ensure that no other monies are missing and that appropriate safeguards are put in place to deter this type of crime in the future.”