Second Riverbank State Park Cashier Accused Of Stealing Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - A cashier at a New York state park in upper Manhattan has been accused of stealing $75,000 worth of fees from the cash register.

Fatima Cooper was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of second-degree grand larceny.

State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott says the 47-year-old Cooper pocketed fees at Riverbank State Park between 2009 and 2011.

"For the second time this year an employee who was responsible for collecting fees from park goers at Riverbank State Park has been charged with pocketing significant amounts of the proceeds," Scott said in a statement. "This represents a serious lack of financial controls at this park."

The IG said her office will work with the parks department to try to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Riverbank State Park is a 28-acre park built on top of a sewage treatment facility on the Hudson River.

The park charges fees for use of the pool, the ice skating rink, picnic tables and other facilities.

Cooper is due back in court Friday.

Another Riverbank State Park cashier pleaded guilty in October on charges that he stole more than $50,000 in cash from a register over a one year period.

George Kelly III, 44, of Manhattan was sentenced to one to three years in prison on a second-degree grand larceny charge.

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