Former Investment Broker Sentence for Stealing From Two Clients in Erie County

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 52-year-old Damian M. Baird of Clarence was sentenced last Wednesday before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one year in jail.

Between February 3, 2023 and March 15, 2023, the defendant, while working as an investment broker, fraudulent obtained a total of $153,503.00 from four accounts belonging to two clients in Erie County. The defendant deposited the victims' checks into his personal bank account instead of their investment account. An investigation was conducted after one of the clients filed a dispute after receiving a notice that their investment account had not been funded and their check had been altered to be made payable to the defendant.

Baird pleaded guilty to four counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class "D" felonies) on March 19, 2024. As a condition of the plea, Baird signed Confessions of Judgment to pay full restitution of $153,503.00 to the victims. To date, he has not paid back any of the money. Baird, who is not a United States citizen, is expected to be deported back to the United Kingdom after the completion of his sentence.

Acting DA Keane commends Detective Mark Muscoreil of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for his work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian P. Dassero of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.