Armonk Businessman Accused of Stealing from Yonkers Schools

William Ahern of 28 High Street, Armonk, New York was arraigned today on an indictment charging the 60-year-old with:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Rewarding Official Misconduct in the Second Degree, a class “E” Felony.

Prosecutors allege that for nearly two years, Ahern, the owner of A Plus Transportation, located at 57 Alexander Street, in Yonkers, while acting in concert, with Anna Sollozzo, Transportation Supervisor for the city's Board of Education, allegedly stole approximately $280,000 from Yonkers for bus services that were never provided for the Nepperhan Community Center.

Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts

"How many music or art classes could have been maintained with that misappropriated money?” said then-Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore in December 2015.

The duo created a phantom bus route by invoicing the Board of Education for bus pickups at the Nepperhan Community Center, when in fact no buses were ever dispatched, according to Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty.

Ahern is alleged to have submitted false invoices for the no-show services, which Sollozzo would approve for payment.

During this time period -- between Sept. 24, 2012 and April 11, 2014 -- prosecutors allege Ahern was secretly depositing monies into Sollozzo’s personal bank account totaling $107,250. A Plus Transportation had contracts for bus services with the City of Yonkers totaling about $2,805,612 from the beginning through February 7, 2014.

RELATED:

• County DA: Pair Defrauded Yonkers School System
• Former Yonkers School Administrator Pleads Guilty

Sollozzo, who was a Yonkers City public servant, from March 8, 2011 to April 14, 2014 neglected to remit a total of $282,398 to New York State Income Tax.

The fraud came to light as the Yonkers Inspector General was investigating an unrelated complaint. That office along with the Yonkers Police Department were instrumental in this investigation.

Bail for Ahern was set at $25,000.

His next court date is June 7, 2016.

He faces an indeterminate sentence of not less than 3 years and not more than 15 years in state prison.

Sollozzo, 54, of 101 Highland Avenue, Yonkers, New York was sentenced on June 1 to two to six years in state prison after having pleaded guilty in December to:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony.

Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ronco of the Public Integrity Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Certified Forensic Investigator Steven Sassone.

ALSO OF INTEREST: Mount Kisco Architects Study Yonkers Schools Overcrowding