Michele Boland

A Gowanda woman has been sentenced to one to three years in prison after stealing more than $266,963 from her employer.

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that 52-year-old Michele Boland of Gowanda was sentenced Monday morning before state Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens. Between Feb. 1, 2016 and Aug. 1, 2022, the Boland stole a total of $266,963.30 from her employer while working as a bookkeeper for a business in Orchard Park The defendant committed the crime by writing a series of checks to herself, which she purposely mislabeled in the company’s accounting software to appear as legitimate business expenses. The theft was uncovered after the business noticed irregularities on a company credit card, which prompted an investigation.

In addition to using the stolen money to pay her personal credit card bills, Boland paid herself several “bonus” checks through the company’s payroll provider. She also failed to declare any of those additional funds on her personal income taxes.

Boland pleaded to one count of second-degree grand larceny and one count of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charges on Aug. 3. As part of the plea, the defendant signed a Confession of Judgments to pay $266,963.30 in restitution to the business and an additional $16,400.33 in restitution to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. To date, she has not paid any restitution.

Flynn commended Detective Darryl Purucker of the Town of Orchard Park Police and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brian P. Dassero and Robin J. Deubler of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Bureau.