Former Throop town supervisor pleads guilty to stealing $11,000 in town funds

THROOP, N.Y. — A former Town of Throop Supervisor was arrested and pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing nearly $11,000 from the town over two years.

William Tarby pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and official misconduct. As part of his plea agreement, he will pay full restitution and cannot seek public office again.

Tarby, 58, was the town supervisor of Throop from 2004 through 2019. In 2020, DiNapoli’s office commenced an audit of the town which found financial irregularities. A subsequent investigation found that from January 2017 to December 2019, Tarby pocketed $11,000 from the town.

“William Tarby exploited his position with the town to pay off personal debts and make home improvements,” NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said. “Thanks to the work of my office, his crimes were uncovered, and he is being held accountable."

Investigators determined Tarby made unauthorized cash withdrawals from town bank accounts, took cash back on checks made out to the town, and kept for himself cash paid to the town for scrap metal, fines and the sale of equipment, among other things.

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As supervisor, Tarby controlled all aspects of the town’s finances and therefore was able to conceal his theft from the town board. He was the only town employee with access to certain of the town’s various accounts and was the only town employee who made cash withdrawals from those accounts.

“Elected officials who use their authority to enrich themselves are not only violating the law, they’re violating the basic trust that New Yorkers put in them,” Attorney General Letitia James said.

Tarby pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court before Judge Thomas G. Leone.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 18.