Sleepy Hollow MS Secretary Accused Of Stealing Funds From District

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — A secretary at the Sleepy Hollow Middle School was charged Wednesday thousands of dollars from the school district. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said Carol Ressa, 53, of Union Place in Lake Peekskill, pleaded not guilty in Sleepy Hollow Village Court after she was charged with third-degree grand larceny as a public corruption crime and third-degree grand larceny, felonies.

The defendant was a long time employee of the Tarrytown Union Free School District and most recently worked as a secretary at the Sleepy Hollow Middle School.

Scarpino said, between about October 2011 and March 2017, Ressa allegedly used her position as a public employee to steal thousands of dollars from the Tarrytown Union Free School District.

In addition to stealing unauthorized checks drawn from a School District bank account and made payable to herself, the defendant also stole multiple checks and money orders which had been provided to the school district by Middle School students and their families in order to pay for various student activities. Those included class trips, yearbooks and even school lunches. After stealing these various checks and money orders payments, Ressa deposited the stolen district funds into her own personal bank accounts for her own personal use.

As a result of this scheme, she stole more than $10,000 from the school district.

Ressa's bail was set at $5,000 cash over $25,000 bond.

She faces a minimum of one to three years to a maximum of five to 15 years in state prison.

Ressa's next court date is June 19, 2017.

Photo caption: Carol Ressa. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office.