Oneida, N.Y. – A Central New York woman employed by the state Department of Transportation stole several thousand pounds of asphalt from the DOT, troopers said.
On Feb. 4, troopers received a complaint from the DOT Investigations Bureau regarding an incident that happened at their facility at 635 Lenox Avenue in the city of Oneida on Oct. 27 at around 1:30 p.m., said Sgt. Jack Keller, a spokesperson for State Police.
Troopers found that Tina L. Barretta, 59, of Rome, while employed as a DOT maintenance worker, directed that 20,000 lbs. of asphalt millings be loaded into a DOT truck during work hours.
The millings were then brought to a private residence on Wood Creek Road in Rome, where it was dumped without authorization, according to Keller.
The millings cost around $250.
On Feb. 5, Barretta turned herself in to troopers in Oneida. She was arrested and charged with petit larceny and official misconduct, according to Keller.
Barretta was processed and released on appearance tickets returnable to Oneida City Court on Feb. 26 at 9 a.m.
Barretta made $96,321 in 2024 on a base salary of $53,708, according to See Through NY, a database of public sector payrolls.