Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 33-year-old Samantha Tarczynski of Hamburg was arraigned this morning before Hamburg Town Court Justice Carl W. Morgan on one count of Official Misconduct, one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree and one count of Petit Larceny (Class “A” misdemeanors).

It is alleged that between May 17, 2019 and October 24, 2020, the defendant knowingly misused a credit card belonging to the Town of Hamburg to purchase personal items valued at less than $1,000. The Hamburg Town Board voted to terminate the defendant from her position in September 2021 after the alleged crime was discovered.

Tarczynski is scheduled to return on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. for further proceedings. She was released on her own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail.

If convicted of the highest charge, Tarczynski faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail. 

“This defendant was trusted to oversee finances on behalf of the residents of Hamburg, but instead she allegedly misused a town credit card to purchase items for herself. My office is committed to restoring our citizen’s trust in public employees and will continue to prosecute cases involving the misuse of taxpayer dollars. I want to thank the New York State Comptroller’s Office for their assistance in this investigation,” said Erie County DA John Flynn.

“Any betrayal of trust by a public official is unacceptable. As finance director and a public servant, Samantha Tarczynsk had the duty to protect taxpayer money. Instead, she allegedly used public money for her personal expenses,” said State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “My thanks to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn for working with my investigators to help the town recoup her ill-gotten gains. My office will continue its audit of Hamburg to ensure that all tax payer dollars are safeguarded.”

DA Flynn commends the New York State Comptroller’s Office and the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the Public Integrity Unit.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.