Ex-Librarian From West Babylon Stole $260K From Library: NCDA

LONG ISLAND, NY - A former librarian from West Babylon is facing grand larceny charges for allegedly stealing over $260,000 from the library over the past six years, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Sheila Seward, 58, was arraigned on Tuesday before Judge Paul Meli and charged with second degree grand larceny, second degree falsifying business records and official misconduct, the DA said.

From August of 2012 to September of 2018, Seward allegedly stole a total of $262,190.20 from the Elmont Memorial Library where she worked as an administrative assistant, Singas said.

Part of her job included preparing the payroll, which gave her access to the library’s finances so starting in 2012 she started adding extra payments labeled "other compensation" to her paychecks without permission from library officials, the DA said.

The amounts she allegedly added to her checks ranged from $39 to $6,900, increasing over time, the DA said. In total, she allegedly added money to her paychecks more than 100 times.

Seward allegedly used the money to pay for her medical bills and college tuition, the DA said.

Following a review of the library’s financial statements by an outside accounting firm, officials caught on to her alleged scheme in September 2018 and reported the case to the district attorney, Singas said.

She resigned from her position at the library in August 2018.

"This defendant is accused of cooking the books of the Elmont Memorial Library for years, allegedly stealing more than $260,000," Singas said. "Libraries provide important, educational and social resources to the public, and anyone caught stealing from them will be held to account."

She was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court December 4. If convicted of the top count, she faces a maximum of five to 15 years in prison.