Subcontractor Receives Probation for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $173k in Pay from Employer

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 47-year-old George Bonnes of Lancaster was sentenced yesterday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to five years of probation.

Between September 2018 and September 2022, the defendant, while working as an information technology specialist subcontractor for a medical office in the Town of Amherst, submitted numerous falsified invoices to his employer. An internal audit by the medical office determined that the defendant, over the course of four years, fraudulently obtained $172,954.95 in payments for work that he did not perform.

On May 7, 2024, Bonnes pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class "C" felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge. As a condition of the plea, Bonnes signed a Confession of Judgment to pay full restitution to the victim. To date, Bonnes has not paid any money back to his former employer. The defendant received a sentence of probation over our office's recommendation that he receive a term of incarceration. Bonnes was ordered to make payments to the victim at a rate and amount to be determined by Probation based on his financial situation.

Acting DA Keane commends the New York State Police for their work in this investigation.

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