New Rochelle School Secretary Accused Of Stealing From District

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A New Rochelle school secretary has been accused of stealing from the district. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. said Tuesday that Marisol Martell, 37, of Elmsford, was arraigned on a 49-count felony complaint in New Rochelle City Court. Martell was charged with one count of third-degree grand larceny as a crime of public corruption, one count of third-degree grand larceny and 47 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, all felonies.

At her arraignment, Martell was ordered to surrender all firearms she owns to the Greenburgh Police Department, where she resides. Her bail was set at $3,500. Bond was set at $7,500 bond.

Martell’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 8, 2018, in New Rochelle City Court.

Scarpino said that, from October 2012 through February 2017, Martell used her position to steal more than $35,000 from the City School District of New Rochelle. Authorities said she stole the funds from the district by taking 45 school district paychecks, each made payable to other staff members.

In total, she took school district paychecks made payable to 15 separate staff members, many of whom were part-time employees and athletics coaches, police said. After Martell stole a check, authorities said, she forged the staff member’s signature on the back of the check and deposited the City School District of New Rochelle funds into her personal bank accounts.

Additionally, in an attempt to conceal her crimes, she also forged the school district athletics director’s name on two false business records — a fraudulent school district consultant agreement and a fraudulent school district requisition purchase order. Police said these two false records alone allowed her to obtain more than $4,000 from the district that she then used to try to conceal earlier thefts.

Photo caption: Marisol Martell. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office.