Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Fannie Bowe, 54, of Bellport, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, after misusing her union-issued debit card to make unauthorized personal purchases and withdrawals of more than $20,000, while serving as treasurer of the Bellport Teachers Association Affiliates Union.
“Being elected as treasurer is of high honor in which your colleagues entrust you to uphold the integrity of their organization,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant took advantage of that trust for her own selfish reasons. We will continue to pursue any individual who thinks that they can get away with stealing funds from hard-working employees.”
According to the investigation, Bowe was elected as treasurer of the Bellport Teachers Association Affiliates since October 2020, while also being employed as a School Monitor for the South Country Central School District. Between July 2021 and January 2023, Bowe repeatedly misused her union-issued debit credit card over an 18-month period, to make more than $2,500 in unauthorized purchases and $18,000 in unauthorized ATM withdrawals.
She also submitted multiple false treasurer reports to the Bellport Teachers Association Affiliates executive board to conceal and disguise her unlawful conduct. Bowe’s misuse was uncovered after union officials noticed and questioned expenses on reports she submitted to the union.
The Bellport Teachers Association Affiliates is a local union for teaching assistants and school aides employed by the South Country Central School District, and its funding is generated by member dues.
On December 6, 2023, Bowe pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.
Bowe is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5, 2024. She is being represented by Steve Wilutis, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Katharine D’Aquila of the Public Corruption Bureau and was investigated by District Attorney Investigator Brian Wood of the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.
