POUGHKEEPSIE – Fred Knapp, a former comptroller for the Town of Beekman, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the town between 2010 and 2013 was ordered to pay restitution, and went to prison for a brief time. He was in Dutchess County Court on Tuesday arguing that he should not be required to pay the town back because their insurance company already did.
Knapp made the same argument in 2018 and was denied. To date, he has paid back $20,000 of the approximate $558,000 he owes. The DA’s office has argued that the lien orders have not been fully satisfied by Knapp. Because the insurance company has paid the town, they are now entitled to restitution from Knapp. Both the DA’s office and the attorneys for Beekman argued that, moving forward, any payments Knapp makes to the town will be forwarded to the insurance carrier. Dutchess County Court Judge Jessica Segal reserved decision until December 23.
In May of 2015, Knapp was sentenced to serve a state prison term of up to nine years for stealing more than $500,000 from the town. After that sentencing, Dutchess County DA William Grady said, “This could not be a more blatant example of violating the public’s trust,” adding “Knapp’s conduct is one of the most egregious cases of taxpayer fraud that I have encountered as district attorney.”
Eighteen months into his prison term, Knapp, a former Dutchess County legislator and husband of disgraced Dutchess County Democratic Elections Commissioner Fran Knapp, was let out to participate in a temporary release program, monitored by State Parole. Fran Knapp was forced to resign from her position after being indicted on several felonies and misdemeanors for election fraud. She pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors.
