NEW YORK (WENY) -- New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced on Wednesday, April 15th that former Village of Candor mayor Eric Halstead was sentenced to 60 days in jail for stealing Village funds. According to DiNapoli, Halstead stole $23,519 from Candor between February 2017 and May 2023.

“Halstead was elected to serve his community but chose instead to steal from it,” said Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, adding,  “He now faces the consequences of his crime. Public corruption does lasting damage to people’s confidence in the institutions that exist to serve them. My thanks to Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin and State Police Superintendent Steven James for partnering with my office to ensure that justice was served in this case.”

According to authorities, Halstead, who served as mayor from 2012 until he resigned in 2024, would occasionally put money back into the village’s accounts, for a total of $19,302. As part of his sentence, Halstead had to pay full restitution, and is barred from running for public office ever again. 

“The sentencing of Mr. Halstead demonstrates the vital collaborative work of our law enforcement partners focused on the same goal; holding those who break our laws accountable. The victims in this case are the people of New York who put their trust in the former village of Candor Mayor. I commend our State Police members, our partners at the Comptroller’s Office and Tioga County District Attorney’s Office for their commitment to investigating those who prey on the unsuspecting public for their own gain," said State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.

DiNapoli also is reminding New Yorkers they can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555 or emailing  [email protected] or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.