Louis LaPolla, the former mayor of Utica and school board president who stole nearly $40,000 in scholarship donations, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to a period of three years of probation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

LaPolla, 79, of Utica, pleaded guilty in May to mail fraud for soliciting and stealing donations intended for a scholarship fund in honor of his late wife, who died in 2018, and then spending it on himself.

As part of the sentence, he will pay $38,616 in restitution, and owe a forfeiture money judgment in the same amount, U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman and Craig Tremaroli, special agent in charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI, said.

LaPolla served as Utica mayor from 1984-1995 and for 21 total years on the Utica school board, ending in 2022. 

He pleaded guilty earlier this year to a misdemeanor petit larceny charge, admitting he used envelopes, stamps and mailing labels belonging to the Utica City School District to send out fundraising flyers relating to the scholarship.