A THEFT OF MORE THAN 32-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM A POTSDAM VETERANS’ ORGANIZATION DISCOVERED THROUGH A STATE AUDIT BRINGS TWO FELONY ARRESTS.

            POTSDAM POLICE ARRESTED 47-YEAR-OLD KIMBERLY PRYCE OF POTSDAM WEDNESDAY ON A COUNT OF FOURTH DEGREE GRAND LARCENY.  42-YEAR-OLD JOHN SWEENEY OF MASSENA WAS ARRESTED TODAY ON FIVE COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE FALSIFICATION OF BUSINESS RECORDS, AND A SINGLE COUNT OF FOURTH DEGREE GRAND LARCENY.  THE TWO ARE ACCUSED OF TAKING THE MONEY FROM THE SPECIAL BELL JAR OPERATIONS CHECKING ACCOUNT OF ROY D. GRAVES VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 1194 ON MARKET STREET.  THE AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE STATE RACING AND WAGERING BOARD; THE COOPERATIVE POLICE INVESTIGATION LASTED TEN MONTHS.

            PRYCE AND SWEENEY WERE BOTH ARRAIGNED BEFORE VILLAGE JUSTICE TIM WELCH AND RELEASED TO PROBATION SUPERVISION UNTIL FUTURE COURT DATES. 

            POLICE SAY THEIR INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, WITH MORE CHARGES POSSIBLE.  BELL JAR FUNDS ARE OFTEN USED FOR CHARITABLE ENDEAVOURS.