By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Sheriff's Department has uncovered a scam involving two people who were trying to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency following last October's snowstorm.
Sheriff's deputies say a monitor who was overseeing the removal of dangerous tree limbs in county parks and a tree cutter she was assigned to admitted they submitted fraudulent paperwork.
Deputy Marty Bronisz says they tried to defraud FEMA for limb removal work that was not done.
"With these arrests, we probably saved about $50,000 in payments that were not made that in all likelihood would have," Bronisz said. "As the investigation continues, there could be more savings."
The two defendants pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of attempted grand larceny. Bronisz says he expects more arrests will be made as the investigation continues.