Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that his first three hires in each employee classification at the DA’s Office, which encompasses assistant district attorneys, investigators and support staff, will add to the diversity of the workplace.

These minority hires address a pledge made by DA Flynn to make the office more diverse and reflective of the community.

The new employees include Assistant District Attorney Norvella Pendergrass, Confidential Criminal Investigator Natalie Perez and Nia Holmes, Assistant Confidential Secretary.

“The DA’s Office works for all the people of Erie County and it should look like the population it serves,” says DA Flynn. “I am committed to having a more diverse workforce and welcome these three women to our office.”

Norvella Pendergrass is a prosecutor assigned to Buffalo City Court.  The Buffalo native is a graduate of Holy Angels Academy, Colgate University and received her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University. She was most recently a junior partner at Pendergrass Law Firm in Buffalo.

Natalie Perez is a retired Buffalo Police Detective who spent 20 years on the force. The Buffalo native now joins the Investigators at the DA’s Office and has been assigned to the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau that prosecutes financial crimes.

Nia Holmes is a native of Westchester County who recently graduated from Buffalo State College as a SUNYAC track champion who majored in Criminal Justice. She joins the DA’s Office as the assistant to First Deputy District Attorney Michael J. Keane.

“These women bring a plethora of knowledge and experience to our office, and I look forward to adding more minorities to the ranks of the DA’s Office,” says DA Flynn.