New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott announced the former Director of Native American Services at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has been sentenced on charges she stole money over a seven year period from trust fund accounts held for Cayuga Nation minors which she oversaw.
“The defendant egregiously took money that belonged to children, and used it for personal expenses,” said Inspector General Scott. “As a result of my investigation, she is repaying the money she stole, and is no longer employed by OCFS.”
Kim Thomas-Muffoletto, 57, of Getzville pled guilty in January to Grand Larceny. She had been employed as a Native American Affairs Specialist and the Director of Native American Services for OCFS in that agency’s facilities in Buffalo. Thomas-Muffoletto resigned from OCFS following her arrest in October 2014. She will pay $19,993.63 in restitution to the victims as a result of her sentencing and was placed on five years probation.
Thomas-Muffoletto worked for Native American Services since 1991. Among her duties was administering trust fund accounts for select Cayuga Nation minors, which included moneys paid by the state to Nation members in accordance with treaty obligations. During the relevant period of this investigation, Thomas-Muffoletto was the only person with authority to deposit or withdraw money from 14 accounts.
Thomas-Muffoletto admitted to stealing the funds and using some of the money to pay personal expenses such as insurance and car payments. She also used the money for expenses of family members, including for payment of traffic fines.
Inspector General Scott thanked OCFS for its assistance in the investigation and Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III and his staff for prosecuting this case.
Thomas-Muffoletto was sentenced by the Hon. Michael Pietruszka of Erie County Court.
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