Community Corner
Hemby Pleads Guilty to Bilking Employer out of $100K
Former Bridgehampton School Board president agrees to pay restitution.
Nicki Hemby, the now-former president of the Bridgehampton School Board, pleaded guilty last week to stealing approximately $100,000 from her former employer, accepting a plea deal for probation, community service and restitution.
The 41-year-old life-long Bridgehampton resident gave a plea of guilty to second-degree grand larceny, a felony, and waived her right to appeal.
Hemby must complete 280 hours of community service and pay $80,430 in restitution payments to Suburban Sanitation in Sag Harbor.
Robert Clifford, the spokesman for Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, said that between 2009 and 2011, while working full time and then part time for Suburban Sanitation, Hemby used the corporate credit card for personal expenses, such as plane tickets to California, a rental car, cellphone bills, and Amazon.com purchases. She also paid herself $23,447 in 2010 from company accounts, effectively doubling her salary, and overpaid herself in 2011 too, Clifford said, citing the victim's sworn statement to Southampton Town police.
In addition to paying restitution, Hemby's probation includes 280 hours of community service. If Hemby satisfactorily completes interim probation, her felony plea will be vacated and she will instead be convicted of a misdemeanor with three years probation in lieu of 60 days in county jail, Clifford said.
