HUDSON — The former president and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce pleaded guilty Thursday to grand larceny for stealing money from the organization when he led it.
Jeffery Hunt, 54, pleaded guilty to grand larceny, a felony punishable by up to seven years in state prison.
State Police arrested Hunt in September 2021 for stealing $46,686 from Nov. 11, 2016, to Nov. 10, 2020, from the chamber’s credit and debit accounts, according to the Columbia County district attorney’s office.
Hunt, who took charge of the organization in 2016, was fired in November 2020 after “financial irregularities” became apparent to the chamber’s board of directors, according to HudsonValley360.
He took a job with the New Orleans Black Chamber of Commerce in February 2022 but was dismissed in April for omitting details about his former employment, according to the Times Picayune. He told the newspaper he was negotiating with prosecutors to resolve the issue with a restitution payment.
Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Office Manager Kira Proper declined to discuss the case and Hunt’s guilty plea.
District Attorney Paul Czajka referred questions to Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Ryan Carty, who prosecuted the case. Carty did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Hunt waived his right to a grand jury Oct. 31, 2022, and was represented by a public defender during his plea. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 25 in County Court.
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