Just before having to go to trial, former Rye Golf Club general manager Scott Yandrasevich pled guilty November 6 to one count of Third Degree Grand Larceny, a Class D Felony and two counts of Falsifying Business Records, class E felonies.
Tom McDermott
Just before having to go to trial, former Rye Golf Club general manager Scott Yandrasevich pled guilty November 6 to one count of Third Degree Grand Larceny, a Class D Felony and two counts of Falsifying Business Records, class E felonies. The defendant remains free on bail until sentencing, which was set for April 9, 2015.
In May, Yandrasevich was charged with stealing over $342,000 from the club, but he pled guilty to stealing $271,120 between April 2007 and August 2012 from RGC by knowingly submitting false invoices to the City of Rye for fictitious employees. He was able to bill the City by setting up RM Staffing for the purpose of billing the City for staffing services provided to RGC.
Yandrasevich faced a maximum of fifteen years in state prison for those offenses. According to Lucien Chalfen of the DA’s office, as part of his plea, “if Yandrasevich pays the entire $271,120 in restitution prior to sentencing, he will serve one year in County jail. If he does not pay back the amount, he will still be liable to pay, and will serve one to three years in state prison.”
In his capacity as general manager, Yandrasevich submitted false bi-weekly RM Staffing invoices on that company’s stationary, listing individuals who were described as working in Administration, Restaurant, or Operations at the club. The invoices went unnoticed by the City during a span of over 100 pay periods, for which the City paid out the $271,120.
In announcing the pleas, the DA’s office recognized the assistance of City of Rye government officials and Rye Police. The City forwarded an October 2012 report documenting the fraud compiled by its law firm, Bruner & Richard, to the District Attorney.
The City of Rye has filed a $2 million insurance claim related to the years of fraud discovered at RGC.