STAMFORD -- A former municipal accountant accused of embezzling $21,000 from the city is working out a plea deal with prosecutors that could be resolved during his next court date in August, his defense attorney said.
James Santorella, 64, of Norwalk, was charged last May with a two counts of first-degree larceny, which each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in municipal funds while serving as an accountant in the city controller's office. He worked for the city of Stamford since 1974 before resigning and turning himself in to police.
Santorella appeared Thursday at state Superior Court in Stamford. His case was continued to Aug. 11. The alleged thefts spawned two civil suits, one by the city Pension Board targeting Santorella's monthly retirement payouts and the other by the city seeking damages at triple the amount he is accused of embezzling.
His defense attorney, Stephan Seeger, said he hopes to resolve all three matters before the next court date. Seeger said he met with city attorneys and elected officials last month to discuss the pending resolution.
Seeger said Santorella plans to pay back the stolen $21,000 in restitution and more to cover the costs associated with audits that uncovered the scope of the alleged thefts. Paying restitution plays a important role in determining whether defendants serve prison time in non-violent larceny cases.
"He wants the city to be made completely whole," Seeger said.
Santorella was arrested a month after authorities discovered a much larger theft of city funds. Fred Manfredonia, a human resources specialist, admitted to stealing $350,000 from the city over the course of several years.
Manfredonia pleaded guilty to a felony larceny charge and was sentenced this March to five years in prison.
Stamford police began investigating Santorella last year when his co-worker uncovered a questionable payment in his name that lacked documentation. An internal city probe found Santorella altered computer records of that payment and a second questionable transaction.
Santorella admitted during a police investigation to taking thousands in city funds, and turned himself in to police, court records show. He was not held on bond, and instead signed a written promise to appear in court.
Staff writer Jeff Morganteen can be reached at jeff.morganteen@scni.com or 203-964-2215.
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