DiNapoli: Chatham Police Chief Pleads Guilty to Pension Double-Dipping and Defrauding Village

Link: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/2021/02/dinapoli-chatham-police-chief-pleads-guilty-pension-double-dipping-and-defrauding-village

Excerpt:

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, and the New York State Police today announced the guilty plea of former Village of Chatham Chief of Police Peter Volkmann following a joint investigation. As a result of his conviction, Volkmann is required to leave public office.

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Volkmann pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree for circumventing New York state’s post-retirement income restrictions and cheating the New York State and Local Retirement System out of $74,222. Volkmann hid public-source income from 19 municipalities and school districts in excess of the statutory limit by funneling the earnings through a private business, PF Volkmann & Associates. He also plead to official misconduct, a misdemeanor, for stealing $18,607 from the Village of Chatham by falsifying mileage vouchers and other reimbursements to increase his income. Volkmann will pay a total amount of restitution prior to sentencing in the amount of $92,829 as part of his plea and as a result of his conviction has been removed from office.

Author(s): Thomas DiNapoli

Publication Date: 11 February 2021

Publication Site: Office of the New York State Comptroller