New York State Parks Engineer Sentenced for Official Misconduct

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 52-year-old Daniel Blamowski of Orchard Park was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens. He received a one-year conditional discharge and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

Between December 2020 and July 2021, the defendant, while working as an engineer for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, fraudulently obtained state wages by submitting time sheets for hours of work performed while also engaging in unapproved outside employment with an out-of-state private contractor.

Blamowski pleaded guilty to one count of Official Misconduct (Class "A" misdemeanor) on April 30, 2024. As a condition of the plea, he has paid full restitution in the amount of $4,111.51 the State of New York.

"I am pleased to announce that not only did this defendant plead guilty to official misconduct, he made restitution to the taxpayers for wages he was paid by New York State Parks while working for another employer. I want to thank the Offices of the New York State Inspector General and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for their work in this investigation. Together, we will continue to prosecute any public employee who steals from the taxpayers of New York. I encourage anyone with information on suspected time theft or other corruption within our state agencies to contact my office's Public Integrity Unit or the Inspector General's Office," said Acting District Attorney Mike Keane.

"The beauty of New York's State Parks is unparalleled, and stealing taxpayer dollars intended for their maintenance both undermines the public trust and risks compromising the investment we have made into these precious natural resources," said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. "I am grateful to our partners at OPRHP and the Erie County DA's Office, as well as my own outstanding staff for their commitment to identifying and stopping such fraud."

"I commend staff who helped protect the integrity of our agency by bringing this issue to the attention of authorities," said Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. "OPRHP is thankful to the Inspector General's Office and the Erie County District Attorney's Office for carefully investigating and prosecuting this matter."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan A. Emmerling of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau and Chief Gary M. Ertel of the Public Integrity Unit.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unitwas established to crackdown on corruption in all levels of government and help restore the public's trust in our elected officials. The Unit is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of cases that involve crimes committed by public employees, elected officials, candidates for public office, members of law enforcement and other public servants. To aid in these efforts, the District Attorney's Office encourages the public to report any suspected violations through the Public Integrity Complaint Form.