Frank DeVito Admits To Sending Envelopes In Bag To Southampton Village Hall, Which Were Turned Over To State Police - 27 East

Frank DeVito Admits To Sending Envelopes In Bag To Southampton Village Hall, Which Were Turned Over To State Police

authorCailin Riley on May 4, 2022

Earlier this week, Frank DeVito, a frequent critic of Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren and his administration, admitted that he was responsible for dropping off a brown paper bag containing three envelopes and other items at Village Hall on June 17 of last year, the day before the village election, which was only recently turned over to the New York State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, at Warren’s direction.

After reading a story on 27east.com about the brown bag and the referral to State Police, DeVito reached out to The Press to claim responsibility for sending the items to Village Hall, stating that the envelopes contained needling “going away cards” for the mayor and Village Administrator Charlene Kagel-Betts, as well as another card addressed to the mayor’s fiancée. They were Hallmark cards he had purchased at the Rite Aid in Southampton Village, he said.

DeVito said he dropped the bag at the front desk at Village Hall and instructed staff there to “make sure Jesse gets this.”

He delivered the cards “going away” messages to Warren and Kagel-Betts with sarcastic intent, because he was under the assumption they would not be able to continue in their roles at the village because of “allegations against them,” he said.

His assumption did not pan out.

Warren would not discuss the contents of the envelopes when reached on Wednesday, April 27, nor would he explain why he ordered them turned over to State Police rather than Village Police, the 10-month delay, and what about them he believed merits a criminal investigation.

“This is an ongoing police matter and I cannot comment,” Warren said. “I would [refer] you to the respective law enforcement agencies.”

Acting Village Police Chief Suzanne Hurteau, reached Friday, also would not comment on the matter or explain why it had been referred to State Police rather than her department.

A State Police spokesperson would only say on Friday, “The State Police are investigating this matter.” They did not immediately return calls earlier in the week seeking an update on the matter.

Earlier this week, when he came forward to claim responsibility for the bag and its contents, DeVito insisted that he had been told by State Police that the investigation had been “dropped.”

The Village Police blotter stated that on April 19 a Village Police detective retrieved the envelopes from the village clerk and transferred them to State Police and that Hurteau contacted the State Police to ask for an investigation at Warren’s request.

The blotter states that the envelopes had initially been delivered to Southampton Village Administrator Charlene Kagel-Betts in a brown paper bag, along with tissue boxes and a roll of toilet paper, on June 17, 2021.

Reached by phone earlier in the week, Kagel-Betts also offered little in the way of explanation about the envelopes, saying that because it was the subject of a police investigation she wasn’t at liberty to discuss the matter in detail.

She offered some insight into the original drop-off of the bag, a narrative that did not line up with DeVito’s account, stating that it had been left at a podium set up just outside Village Hall where a traffic control officer had been stationed to help control the flow of people in and out as a safety precaution because of the COVID pandemic. She said the bag had been dropped off at that podium after the traffic control officer’s shift was over, and that she was not at Village Hall during that drop-off but rather was out, with several other village officials, making final preparations on the eve of the election.

She said the identity of the person who dropped the bag off had not been picked up by any security cameras. She declined to say any more about the bag or its contents.

You May Also Like:

Southampton July 4th Parade Delights Crowd

The Southampton July Fourth parade was held on Friday morning and did not disappoint with ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Come and Tell Us

When Tim Bishop was our congressman, he held numerous town hall meetings with his constituents. They were raucous affairs. Those were the days of the Tea Party, and its members were outraged that the federal government was expanding health care insurance to millions of Americans. And they let Congressman Bishop know it. Usually loudly and sometimes rudely. They seemed unmoved that thousands of their fellow Americans were being driven to bankruptcy by medical debt. They were unconcerned that thousands were dying prematurely due to their lack of access to affordable health care. Many I spoke to seemed more worried that ... by Staff Writer

A Suggestion

I have a suggestion for Craig Catalanotto, who is on record for opposing cross-endorsements and for allegedly switching alliances from Democratic to Republican Party candidates, such as Cyndi McNamara and Stephen Kiely. When the Pine Barrens Commission was in the process of reviewing a proposed golf course development in East Quogue (known as the Lewis Road Planned Residential District, or PRD), I wrote to the commission recommending that a task force be formed to investigate land use on the Lewis Road corridor. The area in question is easy to investigate. One side of Lewis Road includes a sand mine adjacent ... by Staff Writer

Followed Their Lead

While I respect the journalistic integrity of The Southampton Press, I disagree with your editorial awarding the Southampton Village Ethics Board a “dunce cap” for Open Meetings Law violations [“Gold Stars and Dunce Caps,” Editorial, July 3]. The Ethics Board may very well have failed to follow procedural notice requirements. But the dunce cap belongs to the village mayor and his board majority, whose job it is to ensure that all appointed boards receive proper, up-to-date training in the Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law. The mayor and board must mandate training for themselves and all regulatory boards. ... by Staff Writer

Shooting Wildly

As a 30-year litigation-scarred veteran of the sand mining/composting wars waged in Southampton Village and Town, I am a proponent of the amortization of sand mines proposed by the town. In our battles, we were up against the “pre-existing use” free pass, and the town’s and village’s “maintenance” of the sites to dump whatever they chose to, and their reluctance to enforce existing laws, or impose any oversight, which allowed for all manner of activities to flourish. Thrown into the trenches, we learned firsthand how the public was ignored, then penalized; how the inspectors applied existing law selectively; how the ... by Staff Writer

Wonderful Turnout

On behalf of the Fourth of July Parade Committee and the Southampton Village Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events, I would like to thank the community for such a wonderful turnout for the Fourth of July parade. I would like to thank the Village of Southampton employees, police department and Chief Suzanne Hurteau, fire department and Chief Polis Walker, Volunteer Ambulance and Chief Christopher Epley, and the Board of Trustees and Mayor Bill Manger. I also would like to thank the large group of volunteers who stepped up this year when we were concerned that we were not generating enough support ... by Staff Writer

A More Nimble Plan

“It feels like Southampton has lost its soul.” That’s how one local merchant recently described the state of our village business district. Many would agree. Local businesses reported a soft July 4, but a much better July 5 and 6. Just a few miles away, East Hampton and Sag Harbor reported a record weekend. In East Hampton, stores are now staying open late to meet the demand. Southampton Village, by contrast, looked neglected. Trash swirled in the air. Sidewalks were stained and littered with candy wrappers and gum. Mismatched waste receptacles overflowed. This is not the look or feel of ... by Staff Writer

A Simpler Solution

It has taken me a few weeks to respond to the recent “Cup o’ Joe” newsletter, where Executive Editor Joe Shaw ventured onto an editorial limb, venting about village issues, particularly the controversy surrounding Pond Lane. Let’s set the record straight. First, a beautiful proposal, indeed, was submitted to convert the vacant parcel of land into a park. However, this initial proposal did not involve closing Pond Lane. The subsequent idea of transforming Pond Lane into a bike and walking path — what I regard as “the bike path to nowhere” — is impractical at best. You implied that I ... by Staff Writer

SAT Prep Course Offered by Child Care Center

The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center is offering an SAT prep course ahead of the August 23 test date. Classes will be held Mondays in July and August, with an additional session on Wednesday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The cost is $40 and includes a workbook; scholarships are available. To register, email Camryn@bhccrc.org or call 631-537-0616. The center is located at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.
“SAT Prep can be an important part of that journey,” said executive director Bonnie Michelle Cannon. by Staff Writer

Jazz Mass In Bridgehampton On Sunday

St Ann’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Bridgehampton will host its annual Jazz Mass on Sunday, July 13, at 10 a.m. All are welcome. The band will include Ada Rovatti and Eric Schugren on saxophone; Mike Gari, guitar; John Mele, drums; and Steve Shaughnessy, bass. The choir will sing Bob Chilcott’s “Little Jazz Mass,” and all are encouraged to join in singing the hymns. A hospitality hour for all follows the service. by Staff Writer