Former Lake Luzerne Trustee Arrested for Embezzling Over $127K from Snowmobile Club

Former Lake Luzerne Trustee Arrested for Stealing Over $127,000 from Snowmobile Club

A former Lake Luzerne trustee, Mark McLain, 72, has been arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree for allegedly embezzling $127,723.84 from the South Warren Snowmobile Club (SWSC).

According to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Warren County District Attorney Jason M. Carusone, and the New York State Police, McLain abused his volunteer position as treasurer to pocket funds meant for maintaining public snowmobile trails across Warren County.

How the Scheme Unfolded

McLain served as treasurer of the SWSC from 1999 to early 2020, overseeing funds from multiple sources, including:

• Warren County

• Town of Queensbury

• Town of Lake Luzerne

• New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

• Village and Town of Lake George

Instead of allocating these funds for trail maintenance and club operations, McLain allegedly wrote checks to himself and to cash, paid off his personal credit cards, and even double-dipped on reimbursements.

Authorities say he also falsified financial reports to make the club seem financially needy, allowing him to fraudulently obtain state and local funding. One of the major allegations includes submitting duplicate reimbursement claims, falsely claiming they were for the snowmobile club, when in reality, they were for the Lions Club.

Legal Action & Next Steps

McLain, who now resides in Lancaster, South Carolina, was arraigned in Warren County by Judge Michael Muller and is scheduled to appear in Luzerne Town Court on November 19, 2022.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli condemned the alleged fraud, stating:
"McLain took advantage of the community’s trust for his own gain. Thanks to the hard work of my team, Warren County DA Jason Carusone, and the New York State Police, he will be held accountable for his actions."

While McLain has been charged, it is important to note that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For updates on Lake Luzerne, Hadley, Hadley-Luzerne, Town of Day, and Stony Creek, visit HadleyLuzerne.com.