Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 62-year-old Thomas F. Kiely of Amherst has been arraigned virtually before Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon M. Heneghan, acting as an Amherst Town Justice, on one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony, and two counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, Class “E” felonies.

It is alleged that between March 1, 2015 and March 1, 2020, the defendant stole approximately $500,000 while working as an bookkeeper for Kinequip, Inc. in the Town of Amherst. The defendant allegedly sent checks on behalf of the business to a phantom company. It is alleged that the defendant was the sole owner of the phantom company.

Kiely is scheduled to return on October 23^rd for a felony hearing. He was released on his own recognizance.

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

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

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.