Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 54-year-old Joanne Erickson of Hamburg pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony, one count of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a Class “E” felony, and one count of Official Misconduct, a Class “A” misdemeanor.

Between August 2011 through November 2017, the defendant, while employed as a recreation attendant for the Village of Hamburg, stole $156,374 in cash payments that were intended for an after-school program, a children’s summer program and recreation hall rental fees. She admitted to altering cash reports, which were submitted to the village and the recreation center supervisor.

After conducting an investigation and audit, the New York State Comptroller’s Office discovered the theft and brought the matter to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

“This defendant not only stole from taxpayers, but stole money intended to support programs for children in the Village of Hamburg. I want to thank our partners in the State Comptroller’s Office for conducting this audit, which allowed us to prosecute this individual,” said DA John Flynn.

Erickson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when she is sentenced on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 2 p.m.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit.