Troy town official arrested, charged with theft

Troy town official arrested, charged with theft
By Sentinel Staff | Posted: Monday, December 8, 2014 4:56 pm
TROY — A Troy official was arrested Monday, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the town.
Cynthia P. Satas, 62, is charged with theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, a class A felony, according to N.H. State Police.
Police said they believe at least $15,000 has been stolen from the town over the past several years.
Satas has been welfare administrator and administrative assistant to the selectmen for more than 10 years, according to annual town reports.
She is accused of paying utility bills for her Richmond Road home and for rental properties she owns in Troy and Peterborough using Troy town funds, according to police.
The investigation began on Oct. 24, and on Dec. 2, N.H. State Police executed search warrants at Satas’ office at Troy Town Hall and at her home, police said.
N.H. State Police Sgt. Shawn M. Skahan said Friday that the investigation is ongoing, and that the alleged theft likely occurred in Satas’ position as welfare officer.
The main focus of the investigation is Public Service of New Hampshire utility bills paid with town funds, he said.
“There was quite a bit of money going out of the welfare office to pay on things that it shouldn’t have been,” he said.
Police found that Satas used town welfare funds as far back as 2008 to pay the utility bills of people who didn’t qualify for welfare and were living at her properties in Troy and Peterborough, he said.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Trooper Sean Eaton at 223-8494.