Subcontractor admits to fraudulently obtaining over $170K from employer

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A subcontractor from Lancaster has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining nearly $173,000 from false invoices for work he did not perform, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.

Officials said George Bonnes, 47, submitted several false invoices to his employer for work he did not perform over a four-year period between September 2018 and September 2022, obtaining a total of $172,954.95 in payments. He did this while working as an information technology specialist subcontractor for a medical office in Amherst. It was discovered through an internal audit.

Bonnes pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree grand larceny.

He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 16. As part of the plea, he agreed to pay full restitution to the victim. He remains released on his own recognizance.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here .