Timothy Wanamaker, a former top City of Buffalo official, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution Tuesday in federal court.
Wanamaker, 47, admitted that while serving as the executive director of Buffalo's Office of Strategic Planning, he charged more than $27,000 in personal expenses on a city credit card during a four-year period.
Prosector Joe Guerra says Wanamaker was spared prison time because of his cooperation.
"The judge looked at the nature of the crime," said Guerra. "He looked at the fact that Wanamaker has lost his career in public service...and the fact that he did cooperate with the government."
Wanamaker told U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara he wasn't going to make excuses and accepted responsibility.
Wanamaker was first hired under the Masiello Administration and continued under the Brown Administration until 2008. He supervised the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation and Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency.