Former State Employee Pleads Guilty To Grand Larceny In Connection With Theft Of Computers

Attorney General Spitzer announced today that a former finance clerk for the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities ("VESID"), an entity of the State Education Department that provides rehabilitation and vocational services to individuals with disabilities, has pleaded guilty to stealing from New York State in connection with the theft of 33 state-owned laptop computers worth more than $40,000.

Kirk Smith, 32, of Manhattan, pleaded guilty before Judge Bruce Allen of the New York Supreme Court, New York County, to the felony crime of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. Sentencing was set for November 21, at which time defendant is expected to be sentenced to 200 hours community service and five years probation.

According to the charges filed in the case, Smith falsified VESID business records to make unauthorized purchases of computers in the names of VESID clients, and then resold the computers and kept the proceeds.

Spitzer thanked the State Education Department for its cooperation and assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Stacy Aronowitz and Ronda Lustman, under the supervision of Carrie H. Cohen, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, and Laurie Israel, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. Investigator Lawrence McDonald assisted in the criminal investigation.