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Ex-Employee Caught Stealing $250K From Carmel Cemetery, Police Say

A 47-year-old Pawling man and former employee has been charged with stealing more than $250,000 from a cemetery in Carmel, state police announced Thursday morning following a months-long investigation.

Robert L. Bauer of Pawling

Robert L. Bauer of Pawling

Photo Credit: New York State Police

In January, state troopers were contacted by the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office regarding a sizeable loss of money and supplies from the Raymond Hill Cemetery, located in the Town of Carmel.

Partnered with the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, state police commenced an investigation into the allegations which revealed that Robert L. Bauer of Pawling, the former employee at the cemetery, had stolen in excess of $250,000 in money and equipment from the cemetery, said police.

Bauer is accused of submitting inflated invoices from actual companies to reflect a purchase made for the cemetery. The altered invoices allowed Bauer to benefit financially, police said. A forensic audit conducted by the New York State Police Financial Crimes unit reveals that the theft occurred between 2007 and 2015.

Bauer was arrested on Tuesday and charged with grand larceny in the second degree (a Class C felony), forgery in the second degree (a Class D felony) and falsifying business records in the first degree ( a Class E felony).

Bauer was remanded to the Putnam County Jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail or $500,000 bond. He is due to appear in the Town of Carmel Court on July 11.

This joint investigation is ongoing and additional charges against Bauer are likely. 

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Investigator Michael O’Flaherty at State Police in Brewster by calling (845) 677-7300.

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