Buffalo man accused of stealing $176,000 from family member

Acting Erie County Prosecutor Michael J. Keane announces that Jamire Y. Barber of Buffalo, 35 was arraigned yesterday morning before Judge Deborah A. Haendiges of State Supreme Court on an indictment charging him with one count of second-degree grand larceny (class “C” felony “).

The victim was hospitalized due to a medical condition when a fire occurred at his home on Brinkman Avenue in the City of Buffalo in January 2022. After the fire, the accused, a member of the 72-year-old victim’s family, served as the primary point of contact for the homeowner’s insurance claims.

It is alleged that on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the defendant received a check from the insurance company made payable to the victim in the amount of $176,410.10. Instead of depositing the check into a joint bank account shared by the defendant and the victim, the defendant allegedly deposited the money into his personal checking account.

Over four months, the accused stole the majority of the victim’s insurance claim money through cash withdrawals, unauthorized personal purchases (jewelry, designer clothing and vehicles) and gambling of online gambling, rather than using the funds to finance the victim’s medical care and housing. expenses.

Barber is scheduled to return on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. for a pretrial conference. He was held without bail.

Acting Prosecutor Keane commends Erie County Adult Protective Services, the Center for Elder Law & Justice, the United States Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the County Police State of New York for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Christopher P. Jurusik of the Office of Special Investigations and Prosecutions.

Like all people accused of a crime, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.