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As part of a plea deal, Thomas pleaded guilty to fourth-degree attempted grand larceny and second-degree offering a false statement for filing on Monday, July 8.
Thomas will resign as mayor on Monday, Sept. 30.
Thomas admitted that he stole $12,900 from his campaign committee in 2015 and failed to report the receipt of $4,000 and falsely claimed that a $2,500 payment was a reimbursement.
According to the criminal complaint, prior to Thomas filing his 2017 annual statement of financial disclosure with the city, he learned of the existence of the Attorney General’s investigation.
Funds were allegedly used for personal expenses that included rent for his family residence, car loans, and a payment for three automobile insurance policies for two vehicles on which Thomas was listed as the owner, and another vehicle registered to one of Thomas’ relatives.
The plea deal on Monday morning came as jury selection was about to begin for his trial. Thomas had been initially charged with third-degree grand larceny and two counts of third-degree ordering a false instrument for filing, all felonies. He was also charged with two counts of second-degree offering a false instrument for filing, misdemeanors following his arrest in March last year.
Thomas’ resignation comes weeks after his loss in the Democratic primary to Shawyn Patterson-Howard in a narrow vote that he had been challenging.
"NYers put their faith in our public servants, & Thomas’ gross violation of that trust constitutes the utmost disloyalty to those he was sworn to serve," New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote on Twitter. "We will continue to root out public corruption, uphold the integrity of public office, & bring bad actors to justice in NY."
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