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Former Ulster County Finance Director Burton Gulnick, Jr., entered the plea on Tuesday, Oct. 10, said Ulster County District Attorney David Clegg.
Following a lengthy investigation by the New York State Police, Gulnick was arrested in June and charged with felonies in connection with theft from the Hurley Recreation Center, a not-for-profit organization that provides summer activities and programs for families, including a children’s summer camp, Clegg said,
Gulnick was formerly the treasurer of the center, which suffered losses of over $95,000 and disruptions to children’s programs and activities, the DA's Office said.
During their investigation, investigators determined that Gulnick also stole thousands of dollars from an election campaign bank account belonging to former Ulster County Executive Michael Hein.
Gulnick used his position of trust to steal money from both entities for his personal use, in addition to manipulating accounting records from the center to hide his theft, Clegg said.
According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji, “Gulnick’s conduct is most disappointing, especially given the public trust in him, and that he stole from an organization dedicated to children, particularly at a time when children were coming out of being homebound for a lengthy period of time as a result of the pandemic.”
The plea requires Gulnick to pay restitution of $35,000 to the center and $15,000 to the Hein Campaign, waive his appellate rights, pay applicable fines and surcharges, and serve a prison sentence of one to three years in a state correctional facility.
Sentencing is set for January 2024.
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