WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Kelly S. Groves, the president and interim treasurer of the Monterey Volunteer Fire Department, has been recently arrested for allegedly stealing more than $3,000 from the department.
Groves, 49, of Beaver Dams, was charged with grand larceny in the third degree. That’s according to a Jan. 16 announcement from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Schuyler County District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.
“Kelly Groves violated the trust placed in her by her community by allegedly stealing funds meant to protect their health and safety,” DiNapoli said. “The fact that this community was previously victimized by corruption among its fire department officials, deepens her betrayal. My thanks to District Attorney Hourihan and the New York State Police for their continued partnership and ensuring she will be held accountable.”
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“The Schuyler County DA’s office takes allegations of larceny from volunteer fire departments and first responders very seriously. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute cases that violate the trust of the public. I would like to thank the State Comptroller’s Office and the New York State Police for their hard work and collaboration in this matter,” Hourihan said.
DiNapoli’s office said it received a complaint regarding Groves’ handling of funds and subsequently opened a joint investigation with the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit into the allegations. The investigation determined that Groves stole more than $3,000 from the department from 2018 until 2022, by withdrawing cash from the department’s bank account and making personal purchases with its debit card between Sept. 19, 2018 and Dec. 31, 2022.
Groves, as treasurer, did not deposit any cash collected from the fire department’s fundraisers or member dues for three years, 2019 through 2021 into department accounts, the accusation states. The forensic analysis found that Groves withdrew nearly $20,000 from department accounts; however, she could provide less than $5,000 in receipts to support the cash withdrawals.
After joining the department in 2003, Groves held various positions and is currently its president. She served as both the president and interim treasurer from August 2018 through Dec. 31, 2022. She became president again in January 2024 after a year of absence from the department, per the announcement.
Groves’ alleged theft began five years after the previous chief and treasurer of the Monterey Volunteer Fire Department, who were husband and wife, were convicted in 2013 of embezzling over $100,000 from the department, DiNapoli’s office stated.
Following her arrest, Groves appeared before Judge Kristina Vondracek in Schuyler County Centralized Arraignment Part Court. She is due back in court on Feb. 10.
The charges filed in this case are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, DiNapoli’s announcement noted.
