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St. Lawrence County district attorney ends years-old corruption investigation initiated by former DA Rain

Posted 1/17/18

By JIMMY LAWTON CANTON – St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua has ended an investigation into county corruption initiated by former D.A. Mary Rain in 2014. The decision by Pasqua …

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St. Lawrence County district attorney ends years-old corruption investigation initiated by former DA Rain

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON – St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua has ended an investigation into county corruption initiated by former D.A. Mary Rain in 2014.

The decision by Pasqua followed a request from St. Lawrence County Attorney Stephen Button that the matter be terminated.

The investigation into county expenditures and procedures ordered  former County Administrator Karen St. Hilaire and at least five other county officials to stand before grand jury.

The subpoena issued to St. Hilaire ordered the county to compile 10 years of information relating to asset forfeiture and equitable sharing accounts.

The subpoena was triggered by the claims from the district attorney's office that the county had misused drug and criminal forfeiture funds by purchasing approximately $12,000 in audio equipment for the county chambers.

Rain also accused the county of “nonfeasance and neglect” for failing to apply for a Victim Services Grant that provides $500,000 in funding for two victim advocate positions.

The subpoena called for all reports, papers, invoices, vouchers, order forms, account transfers, letters written and electronic, emails, texts, downloads, accounting bookkeeping documents, logs, bank records, statements, audit reports and email searches.

In a letter  issued to Button, Pasqua said no action would be taken by his office and that all documents would be returned to the respective departmetns.

“I’ve received and reviewed your letter dated Jan. 12, 2018 regarding the status of certain matters related to Grand Jury on or around July 29, 2014 (Investigation No. 201402112). Specifically, you reference subpoenas requiring the presence of the Department heads of the County Attorney, County Treasurer, County Administrator, and Office of Information Technology; and, documentary records associated with the Attorney Asset Forfeiture Accounts, Aid to Prosecution Accounts and records relating to the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program. I have reviewed the materials referenced and determined that no action lies regarding Investigation No. 201402112,” Pasuqa wrote. Therefore, with regard to those matters please consider this letter a formal statement, with regarding Investigation No. 201402112, that the Office of the District Attorney has closed the investigation, that no further action will be taken with respect hereto, and that all documents will be returned to the Departments that supplied them.”