Former clerk faces felony charges for alleged Willsboro town theft

ELIZABETHTOWN | Former town clerk of Willsboro Bridget Brown, 40, was arraigned in Essex County Court this week in front of Essex County Court Judge Richard B. Meyer. She is facing 12 charges for allegedly stealing from Town of Willsboro accounts in addition to charges brought three years ago for allegedly stealing from the Essex County Agricultural Society. Bridget Brown was treasurer of the Agricultural Society, which operates the Essex County Fair, from 2013 to 2019. She served as Willsboro town clerk/tax collector from 2014 to 2021. DINAPOLI AUDIT Allegations of theft by Brown first surfaced three years ago in an audit of Agricultural Society accounts conducted by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Those findings led to a forensic audit of Town of Willsboro accounts, which revealed that during Brown's tenure as town clerk/tax collector, she allegedly stole approximately $29,000 from taxes, licenses and landfill fees by pocketing cash payments rather than depositing the funds into the town's account. Forensic analysis further revealed that on certain days when Brown collected cash for the town, corresponding nearly identical cash deposits were made into her personal bank account, according to the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC). At arraignment on town audit findings, the former town clerk was charged with two counts of third-degree grand larceny as a crime of public corruption, felonies; two counts of corrupting the government, felonies; two counts of scheme to defraud, felonies; two counts of defrauding the government, felonies; two counts of tampering with public records; and two counts of official misconduct. The case is being brought to Essex County Court by a special prosecutor, Franklin County District Attorney Elizabeth M. Crawford. Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Alyxandra Stanczak is lead prosecutor. FAIR THEFT Contacted Wednesday, Aug. 7, Stanczak told The Sun that two charges pending in the Agricultural Society case are one count of second-degree grand larceny and one count of scheme to defraud. Both are felony charges. Investigators found that, while treasurer of the Agricultural Society, Brown overpaid herself and made unauthorized ATM withdrawals and personal purchases using the society's bank account. She also used $5,300 of society funds to repay a personal loan. To hide her theft, Brown allegedly falsified the fair's business records. She also obtained a $20,000 loan ostensibly on behalf of the organization, which the society's board was unaware of and did not approve. She is accused of stealing approximately $60,000 from the Agricultural Society. Brown is alleged to have stolen approximately $89,000 from the Agricultural Society and the Town of Willsboro combined. In September 2021, Brown pleaded not guilty to charges of theft from the fair and took a leave of absence from her duties as Willsboro's town clerk. Despite ongoing investigations, she sought reelection to the post in 2021, but was defeated by a write-in candidate. "Bridget Brown had a duty to ensure that funds collected from the fair would benefit her community and was entrusted by Willsboro voters to safeguard town funds," DiNapoli said in a statement sent via email to The Sun. "Instead, she allegedly abused both positions for her personal gain. My thanks to Franklin County District Attorney Crawford for her partnership in fighting public corruption." Brown's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 4.

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Former clerk faces felony charges for alleged Willsboro town theft

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