Former LI Library Employee Gets Jail Time For Embezzlement

ELMONT, NY — A former employee of the Elmont Memorial Library was sentenced to jail today for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the institution.

Sheila Seward, 59, of West Babylon, pleaded guilty on Sept. 1 to second-degree grand larceny for stealing more than $260,000 from the library between 2012 and 2018. She was sentenced to one to three years in prison, and will have to pay $236,752.50 in restitution.

“Sheila Seward stole more than $260,000 from the Elmont Library by increasing the amount on her paycheck more than 100 times during a six-year period,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “I thank the Elmont Memorial Library for their cooperation in this investigation and I’m glad that the stolen money will be returned to this important community fixture.”

From August 2012 to September 2018, Singas said that Seward stole $262,190.20 from the Elmont library. As an administrative assistant, Seward was responsible for preparing the library's payroll and had access to finances. Seward began to add more money to her paychecks and labeled it "other compensation."

The amounts she added to her checks ranged from $39 to $6,900, and increased over time. She added money to her checks more than 100 times over the years.

Library officials learned of the theft in September 2018 following a review of financial statements by an outside firm.

Seward said she had used the money for medical bills and to pay for college tuition. She resigned from her position in August 2018.