Town of Taylor Tax Collector Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Over $18,000 from Town

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Official release

Source material from New York Office of the State Comptroller. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

The tax collector for the Town of Taylor was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $18,000 from the town over a six-year period, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Cortland County District Attorney Patrick A. Perfetti, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James announced today. The defendant, Jaymie Closson, 41, appeared before Judge Randolph Krumanin in Cortland County Superior Court.

“Jaymie Closson allegedly took advantage of her position to steal from the Town of Taylor and her fellow residents,” DiNapoli said. “I thank District Attorney Perfetti and the New York State Police for their partnership in rooting out public corruption.”

“Financial crime investigations present a specific challenge to public prosecutors in presenting accounting evidence in a clear and understandable fashion for factfinders without financial backgrounds,” Perfetti said. “The investigators of the Comptroller’s Office were outstanding professionals with whom to work. The Office of the District Attorney is committed to working with its state partners in enforcement actions to oppose corruption in public office.”

“This arrest demonstrates the hard work of our law enforcement partners focused on the same goal; holding those who break our laws, accountable,” James said. “The victims in this case are the people of New York who put their trust in this former town employee to handle funds responsibly. I commend our partners at the State Comptroller’s Office and our members for their commitment to investigating and apprehending those who prey on the unsuspecting public for their own gain.”

DiNapoli’s office began an investigation after a routine audit found irregularities in the town’s tax collections. The investigation determined that from 2018 to 2023, Closson allegedly embezzled $18,463.12 in tax money collected on behalf of the town during her tenure as tax collector.

Closson’s duties included receiving tax payments from town residents and remitting any penalties and interest from late payments to the town. While Closson collected tax payments from residents, including penalties and interest, she failed to remit the penalties and interest to the town, investigators found. Instead, Closson is alleged to have pocketed the money for her personal use.

She also allegedly falsified her own taxes by marking them as “paid” when, in fact, she had not made payment. Closson has been tax collector, an elected position, since 2015.

Closson was charged with grand larceny and official misconduct. Her next court date is Nov. 25.

The charges filed in this case are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at https://www.osc.ny.gov/investigations, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.

Release text attributed to New York Office of the State Comptroller. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.