Employee Stole More Than $260,000 From Nassau Library: DA

A former employee of a Nassau County library was arraigned yesterday and charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the institution.

Sheila Seward, 58, of West Babylon, was charged with second-degree grand larceny, second-degree falsifying business records and official misconduct. She is due back in court on Dec. 4. If convicted of the top charge, she could face up to 15 years in prison.

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

According to Singas, between August 2012 and September 2018, Seward allegedly stole $262,190.20 from the Elmont Library.

Singas said that Seward worked as an administrative assistant in the library, and one of her duties including preparing payroll, which gave her access to the library's finances. Starting in August 2012, Singas said that Seward began adding money to her own paycheck and labeled it "other compensation."

Seward added between $39 and $6,900 to her paycheck, Singas said, adding higher amounts as time went on. Singas said that she altered her paychecks more than 100 times.

A review of the library's finances by an outside accounting firm found the alleged fraud in September 2018, Singas said, and the case was referred to the DA's office. Singas said that Seward allegedly used the money for medical bills and college tuition.

Seward resigned from her position in the library in August 2018.