A Depew man has been sentenced for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a volunteer fire company.
The Erie County District Attorney’s Office stated that 42-year-old James Hoffman received an indeterminate sentence of two to six years in prison from Erie County Court Judge James F. Bargnesi.
According to the DA, between 2019 and 2025, Hoffman stole $446,118.42 while working as treasurer for the Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Company to fund his gambling habit. Hoffman made unlawful cash withdrawals from the fire company’s bank accounts and failed to deposit fundraising funds. A vendor informed the fire department that they had denied a check for an outstanding invoice due to insufficient funds. The fire department then dismissed Hoffman from his position. Hoffman also failed to file his personal income taxes from 2021 to 2024.
Hoffman pled guilty in July to one count of second-degree grand larceny and one count of failing to submit personal income and earnings taxes on multiple occasions.
A Depew man was jailed for stealing $450,000 from a volunteer fire company to fuel his gambling habit.
According to the DA, as part of the plea agreement, Hoffman turned over $55,000 to his defense attorney, which was given to the Sheridan Park Fire Company. He also signed a Confession of Judgment to pay the fire company’s remaining restitution amount of $391,118.42, as well as another Confession of Judgment to pay $26,706 in restitution to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
“For many years, this defendant abused his position as treasurer to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fire company that helps and protects the residents of Tonawanda. He knowingly violated the trust placed in him by firefighters, dedicated volunteers and the community. I hope that the Sheridan Park Fire Company will be made whole through his restitution payments and continued support from our community.”
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