A local man, employed by two local companies, is accused of stealing over $2.5 million to fund his gambling and more.

A complaint unsealed in Southern District of New York court charged Mark Cina, 56, of Pleasant Valley with mail fraud.

The charge comes from an alleged scheme where Cina embezzled over $2.5 million from two Town of Poughkeepsie manufacturing companies where he was comptroller, over the course of at least seven years.

One company's work included a solar-powered ring of lights encircling the top of MetLife Stadium. The other local company molded plastic.

Cina had authority to sign checks for the companies and use the companies’ credit cards and ATM cards, officials say.

Cina is accused of using the stolen funds to gamble, pay his rent, drive rental cars, dine out, get his car washed, bail out an arrestee and pay a phone charge for an inmate’s call.

According to business and financial records obtained during the criminal investigation and a forensic report prepared by an accounting firm, CINA made the following unauthorized disbursements of the companies’ funds:

• Payments to a mini-mart (approximately $457,000)
• Payments to a gas station (approximately $180,000)
• Payment of CINA’s rent (approximately $25,000)
• Payment of CINA’s personal credit card bills (approximately $125,000)
• Checks payable to CINA (non-payroll) (approximately $599,000)
• Checks payable to cash (approximately $282,000)
• Cash withdrawals (approximately $825,000)
• Additional unauthorized charges (including charges to pharmacies, medical and dental facilities, a rental car company, a car wash facility, an inmate phone service, and for purported loans from family members of CINA)

Cine faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

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