Scott Yandrasevich, the former manager of Rye Golf Club, who pled guilty last November to one count of Third Degree Grand Larceny and two counts of Falsifying Business Records, Class D or E felonies, was finally sentenced August 6 to three concurrent 1-3 year sentences.

 

By Tom McDermott

Scott Yandrasevich, the former manager of Rye Golf Club, who pled guilty last November to one count of Third Degree Grand Larceny and two counts of Falsifying Business Records, Class D or E felonies, was finally sentenced August 6 to three concurrent 1-3 year sentences. Yandrasevich, according to the Westchester County DA, stole $271,120 from Rye Golf Club and the City of Rye, and he will have to make full restitution of that amount. To date, he has not made any restitution; as a result he will serve his time in state rather than county prison.

In a sidebar prior to sentencing, Judge Barry Warhit listened to arguments for and against another adjournment made by defense attorney Kerry Lawrence and Assistant District Attorneys Edward Livingston and Stephan Ronco.

Lawrence contended, in part, that Yandrasevich planned to make restitution from proceeds from his mother’s will which is now in probate, estimating it would be two more months. In such situations, it is best to consult a lawyer for living wills to help you out with the case. Livingston and Ronco countered that the defendant appeared to have other assets, including real estate in North Carolina, that he had not sold. They also mentioned Rye’s pending lawsuit with their insurance company that might be adversely affected. If you want the best estate planning solutions, you need to get in touch with an expert- this is who I was talking about if you have any doubts regarding the same!

Warhit wondered aloud why the defendant’s mother had not simply given her son the funds in order to prevent him from going to state prison and voiced concern that the case was lingering.

Before the sentencing proceeding continued, Livingston invited Rye’s Mayor Joe Sack to come forward to address the court. When his chance came, Sack declared that beyond Yandrasevich’s crime, his deception “contributed to a continued loss of trust in government in Rye.”

Sack also mentioned that the $270,000 was but the tip of the iceberg with Rye claiming a loss of more than $2 million from Travelers Insurance.

Asked directly by Warhit if he was in favor of an adjournment in order to possibly reap some restitution, Sack responded, “I am not asking you to adjourn. We don’t believe we’ll ever see any restitution. Despite a guilty plea, he has shown no remorse. Impose sentencing that justice may be done.”

Lawrence tried to counter that Sack’s charges were inaccurate, claimed that many in Rye believe that Yandrasevich wrongly terminated, and that another party was really the one most responsible for the theft.

But, Warhit wasn’t buying the last-ditch arguments. “This is about choices over a long period, acts of undermining and lying. He did it for greed.” With that, the charges and sentences were read, as well as the defendant’s rights regarding appeal, and Scott Yandrasevich was remanded to officers who took him away.