The former deputy town supervisor of Greece on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption, grand larceny and official misconduct in Monroe County Court. Michelle Marini, who was indicted last month, was arraigned by County Court Judge Meredith Vacca on Tuesday morning, according to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.
Who is Michelle Marini?
Marini recently served as the second-highest ranking town official in Greece, to Town Supervisor Bill Reilich.
Reilich and Marini have a long history together. She has worked for him since 2003, when Reilich was first elected to the state assembly, and followed him to Greece when he took office in 2014. She was promoted to deputy supervisor after the sudden death of then deputy supervisor Jerry Helfer.
Marini served as the number two official in Greece for nearly a decade, from 2014 through December 2023, when she moved to Webster. Shortly after, she was hired as the director of constituent services for the town.
She resigned (and retired) last month amid the allegations.
Before her time in government, the Greece native worked for Eastman Kodak Co., was a stay-at-home mom while her four children were growing up. Before her time with Reilich's local Assembly office, she worked for the Monroe County Republican Committee as an assistant finance director.
What charges is Michelle Marini facing?
Marini is charged with one count of corrupting the government in the third degree, three counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree ― both felonies ― and one count of official misconduct, a misdemeanor charge.
a grand jury handed up an indictment against Marini that includes felony charges over allegations Marini stole town resources for personal home improvement projects.
The indictment listed stolen "goods and services in relation to work performed at" three addresses: Marini's former home in Greece and two addresses that belong to family members. The grand larceny charges stemmed from Marini's involvement with the construction of a community and senior center in Greece, according to the DA's Office.
Marini is also accused of using a GPS tracker on a Greece town resident. The charges do not name the resident or provide detail of those allegations, but two individuals claim to have found tracking devices attached to their personal cars this year.
The allegations against Marini fall across two years, from March 2022 to March 2024, according to the DA's office.
Marini is scheduled to return to court at 10 a.m. on Aug. 27.
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