Munson
WHITE PLAINS – A former Croton-on-Hudson fire chief, former police officer
and most recently fire department treasurer, has been arrested on charges
related to the theft of over $300,000 from the fire department.
Gerald Munson, 64, was charged Wednesday with grand larceny as a crime
of public corruption and grand larceny, both felonies. He was released
on his own recognizance and paid $25,000 toward restitution.
If convicted, Munson faces a maximum sentence of 25 years and 15 years
in state prison, respectively, on the two charges.
The felony complaint, Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino,
Jr. said, alleges that he stole $312,925 including from the so-called
“two percent money,” paid annually to the fire department
by the state in connection with the state’s two percent tax on fire
insurance. He allegedly concealed the ongoing thefts for years by altering
and manipulating the department’s bank records.
Village Police Chief Russell Harper said the allegations were first
brought to his attention, he assigned his detective division to investigate
and reached out to the DA’s Office of Public Integrity.
