MORLEY -- A former treasurer for the Morley Volunteer Fire Department has pleaded guilty to grand larceny.

According to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Cindi Perkins, 58, admitted to stealing over $16,000 from the department over a three-year period.

She pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny.

“Ms. Perkins was entrusted with money meant to protect her community. Instead, she betrayed the fire company and her neighbors by enriching herself,” DiNapoli said. “Combating fraud and protecting taxpayer money is a priority of mine, and I thank St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua and the New York State Police for partnering with my office to bring her to justice.”

Perkins worked for the department from 2016 to 2019, during which time she made unauthorized cash withdrawals, failed to deposit fire company funds, made unauthorized purchases, and wrote unauthorized checks to herself, according to a press release.

The monies were a combination of payments from the Town of Canton and the Morley Fire District, as well as fundraising dollars, officials say.

Investigators found Perkins, who controlled all finances for the department, made more than $16,000 in personal cash deposits soon after similar cash amounts were paid to the fire department, according to a press release.

Investigators also say bank records showed ATM withdrawals from the department's accounts at the Del Lago Resort and Casino and the Turning Stone Resort Casino.

According to the release, Perkins used the stolen funds for personal purchases including groceries, makeup and other retail consumer goods.

Perkins pleaded guilty in St. Lawrence County Court and is due back in court for sentencing on Jan. 3.