WXXI Local Stories
WXXI Local Stories
15 Charged for Defrauding Monroe County
(2008-12-04)
Robert Morone. Monroe County Sheriff's Dept. photo
(WXXI) - One Monroe County employee and 14 construction workers are charged with stealing wages totaling 100-thousand dollars from the county. County leaders announced the arrests Thursday, saying the 15 individuals were being arraigned today.

The workers are with Robutrad, a union group hired by the county's engineering department. They were supervised by county employee Robert Morone, who has been fired.

Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green says 14 are charged with grand larceny in the third degree, and one is charged with 4th degree grand larceny. All are accused of stealing money from the county through falsified time cards and billing records, essentially being paid for work they didn't do. Green anticipates presenting this case to a grand jury.

Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn says the arrests were made Wednesday night.
County employee Robert Morone has supervised the Robutrad workers since the mid 1990s.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks says her top priority is to make taxpayers whole. She says the county will work to hold those arrested accountable, and take any civil opportunities available to recover the stolen money.
Brooks expects the number of people charged, and the total amount of the alleged theft, will change as the investigation continues.
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