The Town of Pharsalia Board met Wednesday and briefly discussed the town’s supervisor being arrested, for allegedly taking more than $100,000 from the municipality. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

PHARSALIA – On Wednesday State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced several charges against Pharsalia Town Supervisor Dennis Brown for allegedly stealing from the Town of Pharsalia.

Following a year-long audit Brown faces criminal charges for allegedly stealing more than $123,000 in town funds. He has been on the board of supervisors for 35 years. He is the longest serving member of the board. He sits on the county’s finance and public works committees.

Investigators say he used the town’s money to fund his personal lifestyle, pad his salary, and pay his bills.

“Since 2010, Mr. Brown allegedly cheated his neighbors out of over a hundred thousand dollars by using public funds for his pleasure and daily expenses,” DiNapoli said. “Taxpayers cannot tolerate the theft of public monies and deserve better from their public officials. I thank the State Police Special Investigations Unit in Binghamton for their diligent work and partnership on this case.”

Brown, 70, of South Plymouth, was charged with 2nd degree grand larceny, scheme to defraud, defrauding the government, corrupting the government and public corruption. Brown turned himself into the the New York State Police and was charged in Town of New Berlin Court.

The Pharsalia Town Board met for a regular meeting Wednesday night and Brown did not attend.