State Comptroller DiNapoli said “Bruce Karam shamelessly diverted funds meant to benefit students to further his personal interests," DiNapoli thanked "Oneida District Attorney Todd Carville and the New York State Police for their assistance in ensuring justice was served.”
Oneida County District Attorney Carville said: “Today’s sentence represents accountability and just punishment for a former local leader who abused his power and the public trust. I want to thank the New York State Comptroller’s Office and the New York State Police for their assistance and tireless pursuit of justice in this matter.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Mr. Karam deliberately embezzled funds intended to enrich the education of the youth and enhance the community for his own selfishness. This sentencing should serve as a reminder that defrauding of any amount will be met with multi-agency collaborative investigations resulting in indictments and arrests. I commend the diligent work of our State Police members, along with our partners at the State Comptroller’s Office and Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, for their hard work in putting an end to this dishonest act.”
Karam had pleaded guilty to public corruption, a felony, for using public resources to support the school board election campaigns of candidates he favored and who would determine his salary as members of the board. He also used school resources to send invitations for a non-school related fundraiser for a purported charity run by former Utica mayor and school board president Louis LaPolla. Fundraiser fliers for the charity were inserted by school district employees during school hours in envelopes the school district paid for and were mailed using the district’s stamps.
Karam was the UCSD’s Superintendent from 2011 until October 2022. He was terminated by the school board shortly after his arrest in November 2023. His co-defendant, LaPolla, was sentenced to 60 days of house arrest and three years of probation earlier in April 2024.
Since taking office in 2007, Comptroller DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. Allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money may be made by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236 or by filing a complaint online at https://www.osc.ny.gov/investigations.
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