March 18, 2004

Bethel supervisor pleads guilty to fraud, resigns

   By Heather Yakin
   Times Herald-Record
   hyakin@th-record.com
   
   Monticello – In one fell swoop yesterday, Ira "Moose" Liff became both a felon and a former public official.

   The Bethel supervisor pleaded guilty in Sullivan County Court to third-degree grand larceny and workers' compensation fraud, felonies. His lawyer gave Judge Frank LaBuda Liff's letter of resignation, which was forwarded to Bethel's town clerk.

   In exchange for his guilty plea, Liff will get five years of probation, and he must repay more than $27,000 to Utica National for the false workers' comp claim.

   Liff arrived for court with his lawyer, Perry Meltzer. Liff wore a dark brown suede coat over a black mock turtleneck shirt, black slacks and black shoes.

   As he left Sullivan County Court yesterday, Liff declined comment.

   Liff, who ran for supervisor on the Democratic and "Hard-Working Honest People" party lines, was elected to the office in November by a 5-vote margin. Three days later, Sullivan County District Attorney Steve Lungen charged Liff with third-degree grand larceny and insurance fraud.

   From July 1, 2002, through Aug. 31, 2003, Liff was out of his truck-driving job on a comp claim for an injury to one of his hands.

   Meanwhile, Liff was operating his own waste-hauling company, Ira Liff Transport, and driving the truck for his own business. Insurance investigators told Lungen they'd seen Liff clearing brush, using a chain saw and lifting trash cans. Meanwhile, Liff was telling the insurance company he couldn't even mow his own lawn.

   Utica National Insurance Group investigators uncovered the fraud and turned the case over to the Sullivan County district attorney's office just before election day.

   Lungen, a Republican, delayed charging Liff until after the election. The district attorney said he waited to avoid any appearance that he was trying to influence voters. Although there was a significant amount of evidence against Liff, Lungen said at the time, Liff still had the legal presumption of innocence.

   Prosecutors and Meltzer negotiated the plea agreement over the next few months. Meanwhile, Liff took office as supervisor on Jan. 1. In New York, a felon can't hold elected public office.

   State law allows the town's deputy supervisor, Councilwoman Vicky Vassmer-Simpson, to step up as acting supervisor, and the Town Board can appoint new board members to fill the vacancy. The town must hold a special election in November to fill out the rest of Liff's term.

   Technically, Liff could have stayed in office until his April 28 sentencing. Prosecutors made the decision to ask for his resignation up front, Assistant District Attorney Mike McGuire said.

   Liff must also cooperate with Utica National, the Workers' Compensation Board and his former employer on any further paperwork in the case, McGuire said in court.

   Liff remains free on $10,000 bail, pending sentencing.

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