Ulster County District Attorney David Clegg today announced that Chief Assistant District Attorney, Emmanuel Nneji, and Senior Assistant District Attorney, Felicia S. Raphael, secured a guilty plea on October 10, 2023, from former Ulster County Finance Director Burton Gulnick, Jr., in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars from a local not-for-profit, as well as monies from an election campaign account. Sentencing is scheduled for January 19, 2024, at 3PM.
Following a lengthy investigation by the New York State Police, Gulnick was arrested in June 2023 and charged with felonies in connection with theft from the Hurley Recreation Center (“Hurley Rec”), a not-for-profit organization that provides summer activities and programs for families, including a children’s summer camp. Gulnick was formerly the treasurer of the Hurley Rec, which suffered losses of over $95,000 and disruptions to children’s programs and activities. During their investigation, NYSP Investigators further determined that Gulnick also stole thousands of dollars from an election campaign bank account belonging to former Ulster County Executive Michael Hein. Gulnick used his position of trust to steal money from both entities for his personal use, in addition to manipulating accounting records from the Hurley Rec to hide his theft.
According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji, “Gulnick’s conduct is most disappointing, especially given the public trust in him, and that he stole from an organization dedicated to children, particularly at a time when children were coming out of being homebound for a lengthy period of time as a result of the pandemic.”
District Attorney David Clegg stated, “Our Financial Fraud Bureau is tasked with prosecuting such matters when they occur. We take such conduct seriously, and thanks to the New York State Police Investigators, ADA Raphael and ADA Nneji for quickly bringing this matter to a resolution for the children of Hurley.”
The plea requires Gulnick to pay restitution of $35,000 to the Hurley Rec and $15,000 to the Hein Campaign, waive his appellate rights, pay applicable fines and surcharges, and serve a prison sentence of one to three years in a state correctional facility. Gulnick is also currently under investigation by the New York State and Ulster County Comptroller’s Offices. Today’s plea does not cover any of the matters within their investigation.
Burton Gulnick, Jr., is represented by Poughkeepsie attorney Todd Carpenter, Esq.
