DiNapoli: Former Hannibal Fire Chief and Father Indicted for Allegedly Stealing Go-Kart Proceeds

July 19, 2024

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Oswego County District Attorney Anthony J. DiMartino, Jr., and the New York State Police today announced the indictment of former Hannibal Fire Chief Chris Emmons and his father Carl Emmons Sr., a volunteer firefighter, for allegedly stealing a total of nearly $14,500 from the fire company.

"The Emmons allegedly cheated Hannibal residents out of valuable resources meant to protect their community in order to fund their personal pastime," DiNapoli said. "They will now be held accountable for their actions. My thanks to District Attorney DiMartino and the State Police for their partnership in ensuring justice will be served."

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, "These individuals willfully stole funds that were intended to support the Hannibal Fire Department and ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community it serves. May this indictment serve as a reminder that financial crimes of any kind will not be tolerated in New York. I want to thank the Comptroller's Office and our partners in law enforcement for their steadfast support in combating these crimes."

In February 2016, then-Chief Chris Emmons convinced the Hannibal Fire Company to pay for construction of a go-kart track on its property. He claimed it would help raise money for the company and replace bingo nights. The company spent $35,000 to build Hannibal Kartway.

The Kartway was in operation from 2017 to 2022 and run by Chris Emmons, his family members and others. Proceeds from the sale of race registrations and pit fees were supposed to go to the fire company. Other profits, from raffles, membership dues, concessions, and rentals, were to go toward track operation and maintenance.

An audit by DiNapoli's office found discrepancies in the Kartway bank accounts and an investigation was commenced. DiNapoli's investigation determined that after 2020, Chris Emmons kept registration fees for himself and by mid-2021 had completely stopped depositing any revenue into the Kartway's bank account. In all, it was determined that Chris Emmons kept over $9,662 from the go-kart track. Additionally, when questioned, Chris Emmons produced records detailing racetrack attendance; however, the investigation revealed that those records allegedly contained false information.

The Kartway also hosted a raffle called "Kartway Cash" that sold numerous tickets. The investigation further revealed that although a drawing was never held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris Emmons allegedly kept $2,300 in raffle sales.

Chris Emmons' father, Carl Emmons Sr., was also involved in running Hannibal Kartway and was a signer on the Kartway bank account. Within days of being contacted by DiNapoli's office at the end of October 2022, Carl Emmons Sr. closed the Kartway bank account and transferred the $2,522 in remaining funds to his personal account. The next day, he informed DiNapoli's office that go-kart track operations would be shut down permanently but never returned the $2,522 to the Fire Company.

Chris Emmons was arraigned on charges of grand larceny in the third degree and fourth degree, offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and falsifying business records in the first degree before Judge Karen Brandt Brown in Oswego County Court. He is scheduled to appear in court again on August 26.

Carl Emmons Sr. was arraigned on charges of grand larceny in the fourth degree before Judge Karen Brandt Brown in Oswego County Court. He is due back in court on August 26.

Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at [email protected], or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 8th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236