A former employee with the Town of North Hempstead was arrested Monday for allegedly embezzling tens of thousands of dollars on the job.

Helen McCann, 51, is accused of stealing more than $98,000 while working as a secretary with the town's Solid Waste Management Resident Drop-off Program. The program accepts garbage from residents for a cash fee.

Prosecutors say four months into the job, McCann began depositing less than the amount of cash reported or, at times, none at all. Officials say the North Hempstead Comptroller's Office noticed the discrepancy and contacted police.

In a statement to News 12, Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said, "We brought this matter to the DA as soon as we became aware of the discrepancies at the Solid Waste Management Authority. Any breach of public trust on the part of any town employee will not be tolerated."

McCann is the first person in New York to be charged under the state's new law on grand larceny as public corruption, which makes the charge a class-B felony. If convicted, she could face 8 1/2 years to 25 years in prison.