BUFFALO, NY— A former city employee who was found guilty of stealing thousands of dollars from parking meters was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay $69,000 as restitution, federal officials said Thursday.
“This investigation demonstrated that what began as thefts of nickels and dimes, in the end cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. “In fact, since these defendants were removed from their positions, the City of Buffalo has seen an increase of over $700,000 in parking meter revenues. Let this case serve as a warning that we will continue to pursue any official who violates a duty to the public.”
On August 16, 2011, Buffalo Police found over $1,300 in coins inside defendant Franklin Lopez’s work vehicle, money that was supposed to be deposited into the city treasury, court evidence showed.
Further investigation, including a review of Lopez’s banking records, revealed a substantial amount of cash deposits and cash payments for a variety of items. Between November 2002 and August 2011, Lopez stole approximately $69,000 from city parking meters, according to authorities.
Lopez is the fourth employee of the Department of Parking Enforcement to be convicted and sentenced in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O’Donnell, who handled the case, stated that the defendant was employed part time as a coin collector in the City of Buffalo Department of Parking Enforcement between 2002 and 2011.
In this capacity, Lopez was responsible for collecting coins deposited into parking meters.
“This investigation demonstrated that what began as thefts of nickels and dimes, in the end cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. “In fact, since these defendants were removed from their positions, the City of Buffalo has seen an increase of over $700,000 in parking meter revenues. Let this case serve as a warning that we will continue to pursue any official who violates a duty to the public.”
Three other employees of the Department of Parking Enforcement to be convicted and sentenced in this case.
James Bagarozzo was convicted of stealing over $200,000 from Buffalo parking meters and sentenced to 30 months in prison. Bagarozzo was also ordered to pay $210,000 in restitution.
Lawrence Charles has also been convicted of stealing over $10,000 from Buffalo parking meters and was sentenced to six months and prison and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution.
Francis Tronolone was convicted of stealing $9,000 in coins from city parking meters and was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution. The amount of money proven to be stolen by these convicted defendants exceeds $300,000.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Buffalo Police Department.