A Wave of Warrants -- Sheriff’s Investigation “Ongoing” in Jewett

JEWETT - A second search warrant has been carried out in Jewett by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, directly tied to their earlier raid rooted in what they say are “allegations of potentially fraudulent activity.”

No details have been released but Sheriff Pete Kusminsky confirmed that the latest look-see, on October 7, is “part of an ongoing investigation.”

It has also been learned that a third warrant was recently executed, and possibly more, apparently expanding the probe beyond town borders.

Sheriff’s investigators initially descended on the Jewett municipal building on July 2, 2025, conducting a sweep of unspecified town offices.

Police, at that time, seized “electronic devices, paper files and business records,” according to sheriff’s Captain Joel Rowell.

Two weeks ago, rumors began to spread of a second hunt after residents saw a line of sheriff’s vehicles, including a K-9 unit, driving down remote Route 23C, turning purposefully onto dead end Deer Valley Lane.

Deer Valley Lane is the home of town planning board chairwoman Barbara Schobel who is referenced in a pending civil lawsuit arising from within Jewett, connected to the sheriff’s department searches.

Neither police nor the county district attorney’s office have revealed the targets of their first visit, two summers ago, or of the latest warrants.

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While little is officially known, town board sessions became visibly tense following the search in July, 2025, and grew increasingly discordant through the ensuing months. 

In January, 2026, Jewett highway superintendent Robert Mallory and town clerk Maya Carl filed a Notice of Claim against the town and the town board, apparently shedding light on the police involvement.

The document, a prerequisite to suing a government entity, laid out claims by Mallory and Carl that some fellow town officials were engaged in a pattern of retribution against them, pre-dating the July, 2025, search.

Those alleged Civil Service Law violations came in the form of, “creating a hostile work environment” for Mallory and Carl as well as “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and “civil conspiracy.”

Mallory and Carl allege that, “actions that resulted in this claim arose on or about April 16, 2025, and have continued to date.”

The Notice of Claim (NOC), going back further in time, states:

—“During the Fall of 2024, Plaintiff Mallory became aware that a private home was being constructed and a foundation was laid on property [on Deer Valley Lane] owned by Barbara Schobel, the planning board chairperson for the Town of Jewett.

—“Around that same time, Plaintiff Mallory mentioned to Plaintiff Carl that the construction was in progress, and Plaintiff Carl mentioned that that was odd because she had not received a check for a building permit for that property.

—“Upon information and belief, a structure was fully framed on the Schobel property during the month of March 2025. By observation, the structure appeared to be over 2,000 square feet.”

The Notice of Claim states:

—“Around this time, Plaintiff Carl received a check for the building permit for the property that was on its face insufficient for the type and size of building being constructed.

—“On April 9, 2025, the building inspector's report noted that a building permit was issued for the property for a 964 square feet accessory barn.

—“On April 16, 2025, [Mallory and Carl] requested a meeting with the Town Supervisor, Greg Kroyer, to discuss the apparently illegal and uninspected construction.

—“Plaintiffs informed Greg Kroyer that it appeared that building and zoning laws were disregarded during and following the construction of the planning board chair's house.

—“Greg Kroyer downplayed the reported misconduct and code violations but nonetheless requested more time.”

—“On April 23, 2025, plaintiffs requested a second meeting with Greg Kroyer. At this meeting, plaintiffs asked for an update on the misconduct and code violations and Greg Kroyer again asked for more time.

—“Supervisor Kroyer advised plaintiffs that, ‘at the end of the process, the file would reflect the project,” the NOC states.

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The Notice of Claim provides more alleged specifics, noting that over the next month or so, various conversations were had between Mallory, Carl, town attorney Tal Rappleyea, Kroyer and other board members.

—“On May 14, 2025, Greg Kroyer told Plaintiff Mallory not to speak to any council members without his permission and stated that he would not have a meeting or discuss the issues further,” the NOC states.

—“Upon information and belief, defendants have never taken steps to resolve the misconduct and compliance issues.

—“After defendants failed to act, plaintiffs were left with no choice but to report the misconduct and compliance [issues] to the Greene County Sheriff's Office.

—“Immediately following plaintiffs’ cooperation with law enforcement, defendants began a campaign to marginalize, embarrass, demean. and punish plaintiffs for their cooperation with law enforcement.

—“Plaintiffs have been subjected to months of hostile behavior from defendants in the form of arguments, cold behavior, and hostile abuses of authority.

—“Councilpersons [John] Giordano, [James] Pellitteri, [Jeanie] Scotti, and Kroyer have intimidated, excluded and disparaged plaintiffs.”

A supplementary Notice of Claim was filed in April, 2026, saying the alleged “hostile work environment” was worsening.

That was followed, in June, by an Article 78 lawsuit brought by Mallory and Carl alleging “an abuse of power” within Jewett government.

Mallory and Carl claimed that two operational policies newly enacted by the town board were, “punitive, arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of power,” and should be annulled as “procedurally and substantively defective.”

All those allegations are lingering in the courts. Town officials, on advice of counsel, are offering no comment, according to Supervisor Kroyer.