Attorney General Cuomo Announces Former Town Supervisor Pleads Guilty To Official Misconduct And Stealing From Taxpayers

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 6, 2009) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a former Town of Denmark supervisor pleaded guilty to official misconduct and stealing money from taxpayers.

Daniel Hurlburt, 62, of East Road in Lowville, pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny and Official Misconduct (class A misdemeanors) before Jefferson County Justice Kim Martusewicz, (acting as Lewis County judge). As part of his plea agreement Hurlburt must pay back $11,511 he stole from the town on or before sentencing on May 15, and is disqualified from ever again holding a public office.

“It is because of the failures of Mr. Hurlburt and others like him that public confidence in government and elected officials continues to erode,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “New Yorkers rightfully expect honesty in government and my office will continue making public integrity one of its highest priorities.”

According to the complaint, between April 2001 and December 2004 Hurlburt used his position as Town Supervisor to write 14 checks to himself from the town’s general fund account. Records show that all the checks were then deposited into Hurlburt’s personal account at Community Bank in Carthage, NY. Hurlburt was not authorized to issue the checks nor did he have permission or the authority to take money from the Town of Denmark.

The case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Heffner with assistance from Investigator Tom Wolf under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Monica Stamm of the Public Integrity Bureau and Special Deputy Attorney General for Public Integrity Ellen Biben.