From Columbia County D.A.'s Office:
D.A. CZAJKA CONFIRMS INVESTIGATION
At 8:00 a.m. this morning, the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and the New York State Comptroller’s Office executed a Search Warrant issued by Columbia County Court at the Tracy Memorial Hall, (the Chatham Village Offices) and at a residence on Brookside Avenue.
This Search Warrant continues the preliminary investigation undertaken by the New York State Police, State Comptroller DiNapoli, and the Columbia County District Attorney into possible irregularities with Village finances.
Investigators seized a large volume of paper records and computers. Assistant District Attorney Ryan Carty and New York State Police Investigator Feroze Munim had presented the Search Warrant application to County Court earlier this week.
District Attorney Czajka assures the residents and taxpayers of the Village that he is hopeful that the investigation will provide a definitive determination of the cause of recent financial issues so that solutions can be explored. However, he cautioned all that the investigation is far from over and that the presence of Troopers and Investigators does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that criminal activity has occurred.
The District Attorney thanked State Comptroller DiNapoli for assigning the skilled team assigned to the investigation of Village finances originally begun by New York State Police BCI at Livingston.
The District Attorney requests that anyone believing he or she has relevant information to share, call the New York State Police at (518) 851-2975.