A Baldwinsville man has been charged with felony grand larceny following an investigation into alleged fraudulent billing practices involving legal services provided through Chenango County’s Assigned Counsel Program.
New York State Police announced that 41-year-old Donatello Lazarati was arrested on Tuesday and charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.
According to investigators, Lazarati was employed through the Assigned Counsel Program in Chenango County and allegedly submitted duplicate invoices for the same legal services. Police say he accepted payment for the duplicate billings, resulting in an estimated financial loss of approximately $4,700 to Chenango County.
Lazarati was taken into custody in the Town of Clay with assistance from the New York State Police Troop D Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team. He was then turned over to investigators from Troop C.
Following his arrest, Lazarati was processed at State Police headquarters in Norwich and transported to the Chenango County Jail for centralized arraignment.
