Williamsville man arraigned after allegedly stealing Hurricane Helene donations
2
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Williamsville man was arraigned Tuesday morning on one count of third-degree grand larceny after he allegedly stole over $5,000 in donations from a local group's Hurricane Helene relief efforts, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced.
Officials said an investigation started in October after members of the group contacted law enforcement reporting alleged fraud committed by another member.
Between around Sept. 27 and Oct. 4, 2024, 35-year-old Timothy Berry knowingly and intentionally stole over $5,000 in donations from the group's social media fundraiser, the attorney's office said.
He then allegedly moved the donated money from a PayPal account to his personal bank account and used the money for personal expenses.
Berry faces a maximum of seven years in prison if convicted of the charge. He is scheduled to return for a felony hearing on Feb. 26 and was released on his own recognizance.
Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.