POUGHKEEPSIE – Former Beekman Town Comptroller Frederick Knapp,
Jr. pled guilty to grand larceny in Dutchess County Court to stealing
$150,000 in town funds, following an earlier admission that he stole $390,000
while in office.
Knapp’s conviction followed an audit and investigation by State
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s Office, which revealed that from 2010
and 2013, Knapp, 63, of Poughkeepsie, stole $149,219 in cash from the
town’s recreation department. He previously pled guilty to grand
larceny for stealing $390,178 by using the town’s American Express
card for vacations and other family expenses. Knapp and two of his family
members had credit cards that were directly billed to the town.
DiNapoli’s Office found that the Beekman Town Board failed to safeguard
town money by overseeing Knapp’s processing of cash receives.
Town Supervisor Barbara Zulauf said the town has overhauled its finance
department, hired a new comptroller and bookkeeper and is implementing
recommended changes in the comptroller’s office as a result of the
Knapp case.
