James Hoffman, 42, of Depew, has entered a plea agreement, admitting to having stolen close to $450,000 ($446,118.42) from a volunteer fire company to fuel his gambling addiction, as well as make personal purchases.
The development was announced by New York’s Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane, who said that Hoffman has acknowledged his fault in the case and will now face between two and six years in prison, pending sentencing.
Man Pleads Guilty to Misappropriating Money from Fire Company
Hoffman has pleaded guilty to one count of grand larceny in the second degree and one count of repeated failure to file personal income and earnings taxes. Keane, though, did not hesitate to highlight the defendant’s guilt and insisted that it was a premeditated act, with the crime itself spanning several years:
“For many years, this defendant abused his position as treasurer to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fire company that helps and protects the residents of Tonawanda. He knowingly violated the trust placed in him by firefighters, dedicated volunteers, and the community.”
Over a period of six years, Hoffman continued to withdraw money from the organization’s accounts and did so knowingly. He also withheld money from the organization that was supposed to go to its bank accounts following various raffles and lotteries organized to raise funds.
Hoffman has, however, confessed and cooperated, agreeing to return $55,000 to the Sheridan Park Fire Company and also pay the remaining $391,118.42 as restitution. Furthermore, Hoffman will also have to pay $26,706 to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for back taxes.
Cooperation in the matter and his general good standing with the company were key to his lighter sentence in the matter, as he could have possibly faced 15 years in prison.