The former chief of the Hannibal Fire Company and his father have been indicted for stealing proceeds from go-kart races.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Oswego County Attorney Anthony DiMatrino Jr, and the New York State Police announced on Friday that former chief Chris Emmons and his father and volunteer firefighter Carl Emmons Sr have been indicted for allegedly stealing nearly $14,5000 from the department.
“The Emmons allegedly cheated Hannibal residents out of valuable resources meant to protect their community in order to fund their personal pastime,” DiNapoli said. “They will now be held accountable for their actions. My thanks to District Attorney DiMartino and the State Police for their partnership in ensuring justice will be served.”
In February 2016, while serving as chief, Chris Emmons convinced the company to pay for the construction of a go-kart track on its property. The claim was that the track would help raise money for the department and replace its bingo nights with the sale of race registrations and pit fees going to the company while profits from concessions, raffles, membership dues, and rentals would go to the operation and maintenance of the track.
The Hannibal Fire Company spent $35,000 on the Hannibal Kartway which operated from 2017-2022.
The track was run by Chris Emmons, his family, and others.
An audit from DiNapoli’s office found discrepancies in Kartway’s bank accounts, leading to an investigation. The investigation alleged that after 2020, Chris Emmons kept registration fees for himself and by mid-2021 had completely stopped depositing revenue into Kartway’s ban account, keeping over $9,662 from the track. Additionally, he is alleged to have kept $2,300 in raffle sales from a raffle called “Kartway Cash” that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When questioned, Emmons is also accused of producing records detailing racetrack attendance which contained false information.
Carl Emmons Sr was also involved in running the racetrack and was a signer on its bank account. The elder Emmons allegedly closed the track’s bank account and transferred the $2,522 in remaining funds to his personal account within days of being contacted by the comptroller’s office in October 2022. The next day, he informed DiNapoli that Kartway would be permanently shut down; however, he failed to return the money to the fire company.
Chris Emmons was arraigned on two counts of Grand Larceny and one count each of Offering a False Instrument for Filing and Falsifying Business Records. Carl Emmons Sr was arraigned on a charge of Grand Larceny.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “These individuals willfully stole funds that were intended to support the Hannibal Fire Department and ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community it serves. May this indictment serve as a reminder that financial crimes of any kind will not be tolerated in New York. I want to thank the Comptroller’s Office and our partners in law enforcement for their steadfast support in combating these crimes.”
Both men are due back in Oswego County Court on August 26 to face the charges against them.
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