CONCORD – A bookkeeper from Barnstead was sentenced today in federal court for stealing money from both Barnstead and Hampton School Districts, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Amy Burley, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 12 months and one day in federal prison and 2 years of supervised release. Burley was also ordered to pay $131,261.81 in restitution. On February 23, 2023, Burley pleaded guilty to two counts of Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds.

“These public-school districts placed trust in Burley as their bookkeeper, and she blatantly abused that trust by stealing funds intended for the school children in these districts,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “I’m proud that we were able to bring restitution to the taxpayers while sending a deterrent message that this type of thievery will result in incarceration.”

“Instead of working honestly on behalf of two financially struggling school districts, Amy Burley took advantage of them, betraying the trust they placed in her, by stealing tens of thousands of dollars to line her own pockets,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.  “Her selfish greed is an affront to all the hard-working students and taxpayers struggling to make ends meet, and today’s sentence ensures she’s held accountable for her criminal conduct.”

Burley was employed as a bookkeeper for Barnstead School District and then Hampton School District.  In her role, Burley processed payroll and handled the payment of invoices.

            Burley used her access at Barnstead School District to alter her payroll information, make personal student loan payments and payments to personal creditors, and pay for an Amazon account charged to Barnstead but controlled by Burley, totaling $110,295.26.  Following her termination from Barnstead, Burley was hired as a bookkeeper at Hampton School District, where she used again her position to use district funds to pay student loans and credit cards belonging to her or her family members, totaling $20,966.52

Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Education Office of the Inspector General, the Barnstead Police Department, and the Hampton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy prosecuted the case.