HANNIBAL, N.Y. — Former Hannibal Fire Chief Chris Emmons on Thursday May 22 pled guilty to grand larceny for stealing from the town’s fire company and agreed to pay $9,838 in restitution.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Oswego County District Attorney Anthony DiMartino, Jr., and New York State Police Superintendent Steven James announced the guilty plea.
Emmons pled guilty before Judge Karen Brandt Brown of Oswego County Court. He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 22, 2026.
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“Mr. Emmons diverted money meant to protect his community to fund his own interests by deceiving the fire company that it would receive the proceeds,” DiNapoli said. “Emmons betrayed not only the company but all who rely upon it. I thank District Attorney DiMartino and Superintendent James for their continued partnership and ensuring Emmons was held accountable.”
Emmons used the Hannibal Fire Company’s funds to build a go-kart track, Hannibal Kartway, claiming that its proceeds “would benefit the company,” DiNapoli’s office said.
Emmons, his family, and others ran the track for five years — from 2017 to 2022 — until an audit by DiNapoli’s office discovered discrepancies in the track’s books. A subsequent investigation found that rather than turning the money over to the company, Emmons had pocketed the Kartway’s profits, DiNapoli’s office said.
The investigation also found that Emmon’s father, Carl Emmons Sr., closed the Kartway’s bank account upon learning of the comptroller’s examination and the remaining funds were transferred to his bank account.
Carl Emmons Sr. faces pending charges of grand larceny in the fourth degree, DiNapoli said.
