A Rochester man who heads up a company that administered medical and dental benefit accounts for organizations is facing two Class C felony counts of 2nd-degree grand larceny after he allegedly stole more than $810,000 from three school districts in New York, including one in Chautauqua County. State Police say they arrested 49-year-old Zacchary Weber -- President and CEO of Health Economics Partners, LLC (HEP) -- on Wednesday. The investigation began last September after the Sodus Central School District in Wayne County reported concerns involving funds administered by HEP. Police say the probe found that the funds were allegedly transferred without authorization from accounts belonging to the Sodus Central School District and North Rose-Wolcott Central School District -- also in Wayne County -- as well as the Bemus Point Central School District. A forensic audit conducted by the New York State Police Financial Crimes Unit determined the three school districts sustained combined losses totaling $810,695.55. That figure includes $251,119.86 in losses to the Bemus Point Central School District. Weber was arraigned in Wayne County on one of the grand larceny counts, then was transported to Chautauqua County for arraignment on the other count.
The investigation was conducted by the New York State Police Troop E Violent Crime Investigative Team with assistance from the Special Investigations Unit Financial Crimes Unit, Troop E Community Stabilization Unit, SP Jamestown Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Wayne County District Attorney's Office. The investigation remains ongoing.
Photo by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office
