Trial delayed second time in embezzlement case

POTSDAM — The U.S. District Court trial of three businessmen charged with stealing money intended for their employees' retirement fund has been postponed a second time.

The trial of Sidney Belile, Raymondville, Mark Mayette, Waddington, and Kirk Mayette, Madrid, owners of Northern New York Environmental Services Corp. Inc., which did business as Northern New York Construction Services Corp., is now scheduled to begin Feb. 23 in Albany.

The men have been indicted on charges of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, filing a false statement and theft or embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. It is alleged, among other things, that the men failed to make required contributions to employees' retirement plan, instead keeping the money for their own use.

The case was initially scheduled for trial Jan. 12 and then rescheduled to begin Monday. It was postponed a second time at the request of defense counsel.