The Peru Gazette

Albany, NY, Press Release – State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Ontario County District Attorney Jason MacBride, and Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione announced that Jill Havens, the former Treasurer of the Citizens Hose Company in Shortsville, pleaded guilty to felony theft of nearly $75,000 over a four-year period.

“Jill Havens not only exploited the trust of the members of the fire company who volunteer their time to protect their community, but her community which the company serves,” DiNapoli said. “She will now be held accountable for her crimes and the Company made whole. I thank District Attorney MacBride and Sheriff Cirencione for their partnerships in rooting out fraud.”

“Today marks an important step in moving forward for the Citizens Hose Company,” Cirencione said. “I am pleased Ms. Havens has taken responsibility for her actions and made a significant payment toward her restitution which will help the fire service in Shortsville fund necessary programs and equipment as intended. My thanks to now retired Inv. Doug Smith who spent countless hours pouring over financial records and interviewing witnesses in order to make an arrest in this case.  Comptroller DiNapoli and his staff were instrumental in assisting us throughout this investigation. District Attorney Jason MacBride has now held Ms. Havens accountable for this significant theft.  We encourage anyone who suspects that fraudulent activity is occurring in any non-profit or service organization to report it.”

Members of the Citizens Hose Fire Company alerted the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and the Ontario County District Attorney’s Office when they suspected money was being stolen from the company. A joint investigation was then launched by DiNapoli’s Office, Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and the Ontario County District Attorney’s Office.

Havens served as the fire company’s treasurer from 2018 through August 2022. As treasurer she had access to the company’s bank account and credit card. Investigators found she issued unauthorized checks and made personal purchases with fire company funds, then altered the company’s financial records to conceal her crime. She used the money to pay off her credit cards, make retail purchases, and to pay for online video games.

Haven’s predecessor at the hose company was convicted of grand larceny in 2019, after an investigation by DiNapoli found that she had embezzled over $24,000 in company funds. In 2020, the Comptroller issued an audit report recommending various measures to enhance internal controls at the company.

Havens pled guilty to grand larceny in the second degree in Ontario County Court, in front of Judge Gregory McCaffery. She paid $40,000 in restitution today with the remainder due at sentencing.