Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 62-year-old Thomas F. Kiely of Amherst pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class “D” felony, and one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class “E” felony.

The defendant admitted to embezzling $578,354.34 from his employer while working as a bookkeeper for Kinequip, Inc. in the Town of Amherst by sending checks on behalf of the business to a phantom company. The defendant was the sole owner of the phantom company. The defendant also admitted to falsifying his tax returns.

As part of his guilty plea, the defendant agreed to pay full restitution, which requires him to pay half of total amount before or on his sentencing date.

Kiely faces up to 7 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. He remains released on his own recognizance.

DA Flynn commends Detectives Gilbert and Trotter of the Amherst Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Candace K. Vogel of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Unit.