{"id":6689,"date":"2014-10-16T18:33:18","date_gmt":"2014-10-17T01:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=6689"},"modified":"2014-10-16T18:33:18","modified_gmt":"2014-10-17T01:33:18","slug":"citys-parking-meter-thief-pocketed-thousands-coins-sentenced-prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=6689","title":{"rendered":"City’s Parking Meter Thief Who Pocketed Thousands of Coins Sentenced to Prison"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Parking<\/a>
Buffalo Parking Meters (FBI Evidence)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BUFFALO, NY\u2014\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis investigation demonstrated that what began as thefts of nickels and dimes, in the end cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,\u201d said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On August 16, 2011, Buffalo Police found over $1,300 in coins inside defendant\u00a0Franklin Lopez’s<\/strong> \u00a0work vehicle, money that was supposed to be deposited into the city treasury, court evidence showed.<\/p>\n

Further investigation, including a review of Lopez\u2019s banking records, revealed a substantial amount of cash deposits and cash payments for a \u00a0variety of items. Between November 2002 and August 2011, Lopez stole approximately $69,000 from city parking meters, according to authorities.<\/p>\n

Lopez is the fourth employee of the Department of Parking Enforcement to be convicted and sentenced in this case.<\/p>\n

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maura K. O\u2019Donnell, 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.<\/p>\n

In this capacity, Lopez was responsible for collecting coins deposited into parking meters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis investigation demonstrated that what began as thefts of nickels and dimes, in the end cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,\u201d said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n