A Roslyn Heights parent of a student at the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson was arrested on Tuesday morning for stealing more than $15,000 from the school’s parent-teacher association, according to the county District Attorney’s office.
John Rom, 57, was arrested by DA Investigators and charged with grand larceny in the third degree for allegedly embezzling the funds from the school for children with severe physical and mental disabilities.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said that between February 2009 and May 2011, Rom, who served as the treasurer of the Henry Viscardi School Special Education Parents Teachers Association, embezzled $15,885 from the association by writing a series of unauthorized checks that were made payable to himself or to cash.
The alleged theft of funds became evident when an audit of the PTA’s financial records was conducted and the school referred the matter to the DA’s office, according to the DA’s office.
“This defendant may have thought that the effects of the economic downturn warranted this theft, but the fact is that he stole money from children with severe disabilities that are already facing immense obstacles,” Rice said. “I want to thank the Henry Viscardi School for their assistance with this investigation.”
Rom faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. He was released on his own recognizance after arraigned on Tuesday afternoon in 1st District Court in Hempstead. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 17.
