NY special education co. director admits theft

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The executive director of a Long Island-based special education provider has admitted bilking public school systems by paying his relatives for doing little to nothing.

Morton Kramer pleaded guilty Friday to grand larceny charges in a Manhattan court. The case stemmed from an audit by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Kramer agreed to pay $418,000 in restitution and serve five years' probation. He's also banned from providing special education services in the state.

Kramer ran IncludED Educational services, based in Cedarhurst. The now-defunct company provided special education services to 3-to-5-year-olds.

DiNapoli's investigation found IncludED charged New York City's Department of Education and other school districts for salaries paid to Kramer's relatives.

DiNapoli says the six relatives performed little or no work for the education programs.

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