Ex-City Records Cashier Indicted in Cash Pocketing Scheme

The former chief cashier in the city's Records Department was among four people slapped with federal indictments on Thursday. Officials say she sold city records at a discount then kept the cash.

KYW's Mike Dunn reports that Kelly Kaufmann Layre is charged in the case. Until her resignation this spring, she was the chief cashier at the Records Department at City Hall. Inspector general Amy Kurland says Layre sold copies of accident reports and police reports to three others for five to ten dollars per report, far less than the city's price of $20 to $25.

And Kurland says the discounted fee went into Layre's pocket:

"What Kelly Kaufmann Layre did was take money from people, and keep the money for herself."

 The three customers who took part in the scam, Tina Meyrick, Paul Kling and Brian Daly, were also indicted. Kurland says the scam lasted four years and defrauded taxpayers of about $600,000 in revenue. All four face up to ten years in prison.

Records commissioner Joan Decker says she is now implementing changes in the department -- including the installation of cameras -- to better supervise the staff.

(photo of Amy Kurland and Mayor Nutter at news conference by KYW's Mike Dunn)