A.G. Schneiderman & Superintendent D’Amico Announce Conviction Of Rensselaer County Correctional Officer For Embezzling Union Money

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico recently announced the conviction of Rensselaer County Correctional Officer Kevin Rogers, 45, for embezzling over $3,000 from the Sheriff’s Employees Association of Rensselaer County (“SERCO”). In addition to serving as a corrections officer, Rogers is the former vice president and treasurer of the Sheriff’s Employees Association of Rensselaer County. From August 2006 through January 2011, Rogers diverted SERCO funds by using the SERCO debit card at various restaurants and gentlemen’s clubs throughout the Capital District for non-union business. Rogers also used SERCO funds to purchase ringside tables at two boxing events that had no relationship to union business. Rogers was convicted today following a jury trial before The Honorable Debra J. Young in Rensselaer County Court.

“Those who hold a position of public trust must be held to a higher standard of professional conduct, particularly when misconduct undermines the good work of our men and women in law enforcement,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “The misuse of union dues detracts from the union’s noble mission and amounts to theft from its members.”

"These funds were meant to support the members and the mission of the union, not to provide a union official with personal entertainment,” said New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D'Amico. “The message here is simple: This type of behavior will not be tolerated."

Rogers was convicted of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and faces up to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison when he is sentenced.

The Attorney General’s Office thanks the New York State Police for their work on this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Bridget Holohan Scally and Christopher Baynes of the Public Integrity Bureau. Legal Support Analyst Sara Pogorzelski also worked on the case. The Public Integrity Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Daniel Cort and Deputy Chief Stacy Aronowitz. The Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.

The investigation was handled by OAG Investigator Mark Spencer, with the assistance of the United States Attorneys' Office for the Northern District of New York. The Investigations Division is led by Bureau Chief Dominick Zarrella.