The Upper East Side dad who prosecutors said stole more than $185,000 from the parent-teacher association at his own child’s elementary school for luxury vacations and shopping sprees has agreed to pay back the full amount as part of a plea agreement that would cut his time behind bars, prosecutors confirmed to Upper East Site.
Marc Haynes, 34, served as co-treasurer of the PTA at East Side Elementary School — located on East 63rd Street between Third and Second Avenues — and was indicted by a grand jury last spring, accused of making seventeen unauthorized payments using one of the PTA’s accounts from October 2020 to July 2021.
ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE: Roaches Infest MTA Buses on UES Routes, Passenger Says
Prosecutors alleged that Haynes made payments to his personal credit card ranging from $2,389 to $32,000 to cover bills from high-end hotels and purchases at Fendi, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn, adding that he even used the PTA’s money to pay court-ordered restitution in a 2016 theft case involving a former employer.
PS 267/East Side Elementary School PTA noticed the suspicious payments in the fall of 2021, prosecutors say, and confronted Haynes about it— instead of explaining, prosecutors say he resigned from his position as co-treasurer.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed to Upper East Site that Haynes — who was in court on Tuesday for a hearing — agreed to plead guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, which would be reduced to a lower offense if Haynes pays back $185,7171.53 in restitution within 90 days and stays out of trouble. Another arrest would void the plea deal.
ALSO READ | Man Viciously Assaulted on Upper East Side Subway Train: NYPD
Should Haynes hold up his end of the agreement and pays back the money within 90 days, prosecutors say his guilty plea would apply to the lower charge of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree — with a promised sentence of 2 to 4 years in prison.
“This was a serious instance of fraud where Mr. Haynes stole from his own child’s elementary school PTA to go on tropical vacations and buy luxury goods,” said Kay Nguyen, spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
“He will now be required to fully reimburse the PS 267 PTA for its losses.”
Upper East Site reached out to the PS 267/East Side Elementary School PTA for comment on the plea agreement requiring full restitution, but did not immediately hear back.
Haynes is due back in court April 18th.
