Yorktown Heights Woman Accused in $199,000 Theft from Employer

A Yorktown Heights woman who is head of operations at a Rockland County company is accused of stealing more than $199,000 from escrow accounts connected to the real estate related business, according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe.

Barbara Cummaro, 59, of 2765 Denby Drive, Yorktown Heights, is accused of second-degree grand larceny and faces a June 3 hearing on the charge. Prosecutors said Cummaro was faced with a significant illness in her family and dipped into escrow accounts to take money to cover mounting bills.

As she was facing arrest, prosecutors said Cummaro had promised to repay the stolen money but has not followed through with that promise.

Zugibe said an investigation by the Special Investigations Unit in his office found that Cummaro used her access to escrow accounts as head of operations of a title insurance company to write checks to herself from January 2012 to April 2013. The checks ranged in amounts from $12,000 to $24,950, with the total stolen from her employer hitting $199,039.68.

Zugibe said the company replaced the funds taken from the escrow accounts when the theft was detected.

The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Gary Lee Heavner. Cummaro was arraigned in Clarkstown Town Court before Judge Craig Johns and was released.

The charge against her carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison if there is a conviction.