The president and interim treasurer of the Monterey Volunteer Fire Department has been arrested and charged with stealing more than $3,000 from the department.
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Schuyler County District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said 49-year-old Kelly Groves, of Beaver Dams, was charged with grand larceny in the third degree.
Investigators allege Groves stole department funds between 2018 and 2022 while serving as interim treasurer. According to officials, a joint investigation by the State Comptroller’s Office and the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit found that Groves withdrew cash from department bank accounts and made personal purchases using the department’s debit card.
Authorities said Groves failed to deposit cash collected from fundraisers and member dues for three years, from 2019 through 2021. A forensic review determined she withdrew nearly $20,000 from department accounts but could provide less than $5,000 in receipts to justify the withdrawals.
Groves joined the fire department in 2003 and has held multiple leadership roles. She served as both president and interim treasurer from August 2018 through December 2022, and returned as president in January 2024 following a year away from the department.
Officials noted the department was previously affected by financial misconduct. In 2013, a former fire chief and treasurer, who were married, were convicted of embezzling more than $100,000 from the department following an investigation by the State Comptroller’s Office.
Groves was arraigned before Judge Kristina Vondracek in Schuyler County Centralized Arraignment Part Court and is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 10.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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