Staten Island School Purchasing Secretary Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

This week, the purchasing secretary admitted guilt in a case involving a contract that siphoned off more than $145,000 from a Staten Island public school over a span of seven years, although full reparations will be required.

Michele Cenci, who had complete control over the checkbook and procurement system at PS 21 Margaret Emery-Elm Park, reportedly used deceptive tactics to redirect funds to herself and her family. Authorities revealed that she falsified spending records, masking them as payments to vendors for items that were never actually bought, along with collecting duplicate payments for legitimate transactions.

Investigators highlighted the gravity of the situation: “By stealing nearly $150,000 of school funding from one of our beloved elementary schools on Staten Island, Michele Sensi took away crucial resources meant for students and staff, betraying her colleagues, the children, and our community.”

Despite prosecutors advocating for stricter punishment, State Supreme Court Judge Lisa Gray offered Cenci a plea deal that avoided prison time, according to the district attorney’s office. “We fought hard for a more significant consequence,” the DA said, emphasizing the importance of accountability while noting that Cenci would still carry a permanent criminal record.

She diverted funds with apparent ease, all while handling school business records. Her methods included forgeries and using counterfeit signatures from her colleagues to create a facade of legitimacy. “Instead, she was lining her own pockets,” remarked Anastasia Coleman, chair of the investigative committee.

Earlier in January, the district attorney had charged Cenci with two counts of grand theft, alongside tampering and forgery charges. This week, she pled guilty to one count of grand theft.

As part of her sentence, Cenci has been placed on probation for five years. Additionally, she agreed to pay an initial $46,000 and will be required to pay $1,500 each month until her probation concludes. “She will be obligated to repay every penny she has taken from these students,” the district attorney asserted.

Following Cenci’s indictment, Coleman warned that similar fraudulent activities could be lurking in other parts of the city. “We urge school administrators to scrutinize their budgets and records closely to ensure proper allocation of funds and prevent other schemes,” she advised.

Meanwhile, the city’s Department of Education has remained tight-lipped regarding the extent of oversight by the then-principal, Anthony Cosentino. The DOE did confirm that Cenci has retired but did not respond to further inquiries.