A woman has been accused of stealing - and also selling - electronics purchased for Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, Ontario County.
Debra Jerome, 51, who worked as the purchasing agent for the colleges’ Information Technology Department, was charged Monday with one count of second-degree grand larceny, a felony, said Geneva Police Lt. Eric Heieck. Additional charges are pending.
Jerome, of Stanley, Ontario County, is accused of ordering items including computers, printers, laptops and tablets on behalf of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, but stealing the products before they reached campus, Heieck said. Police believe Jerome allegedly kept some items for herself, but ultimately sold most of the new items and pocketed the cash, Heieck said.
The lone felony charge alleged she took more than $50,000 worth of property that belonged to the colleges between 2008 and 2014. Heieck said police believe she took several hundred thousand dollars worth of brand-new electronics over the six-year period.
Jerome, who no longer works for Hobart and William Smith, was arraigned in Geneva City Court on Monday. She was remanded to the Ontario County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.
The colleges brought the thefts to the attention of Geneva police earlier this year, he said.