New York State Police in Bath have arrested James Johnson Jr., of Dansville, on charges of third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony.
Authorities say Johnson entered into a contract with a homeowner in the town of Urbana, Steuben County, to build a tram and elevator system to provide wheelchair access to the lakefront. In August 2024, Johnson accepted a $10,000 deposit, which was deposited into a bank account linked to his wife.
The investigation revealed that the money was spent at various retail stores, gas stations, and hotels, and that no materials were purchased and no work was completed on the project.
On March 4, 2026, Johnson was transported from the Yates County Jail to the State Police barracks in Bath, where he was arrested and processed without incident. He was issued an appearance ticket and returned to jail.
Johnson is scheduled to appear in Urbana Town Court on March 23 at 5 p.m.
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.
