Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 63-year-old Dean Yerry of Henderson, Nevada has pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia to one count of Bribe Receiving in the Second Degree.

Between December 1, 2012 and November 30, 2014, when Yerry was a maintenance supervisor at the University at Buffalo, he conspired to rig the bidding on two painting contracts worth $1 million in exchange for a $100,000 kickback.

Yerry retired from the University at Buffalo in November of 2014 before the charges came to light.

Yerry remains free on $100,000 bail and faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced by Justice Buscaglia on May 2, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

“The taxpayer is the victim in this case,” says DA Flynn. “Our office is sending out a strong message that we will go after those in our public systems who refuse to play by the rules.”

DA Flynn commends Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott and her office for their investigative work.

“This defendant succumbed to criminal greed as he used his State position to manipulate the procurement process and give a favored contractor an unfair advantage in exchange for bribes,” said Inspector General Leahy Scott. “He abused his position and he violated the public trust. I will relentlessly pursue anyone who uses their government position to enrich themselves through criminal acts.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the DA’s Public Integrity Unit.