Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 63-year-old Kathleen Donhauser of Lockport was sentenced this afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to five years of probation.

The defendant admitted that between May 14, 2013 and April 19, 2017, she stole $389,187.00 while working as a personal banker for the owners of Hart Hotels, Inc. The defendant used the money to pay her personal credit card bills.

Donhauser pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony) on December 11, 2020.

As part of her plea, she was ordered to pay restitution to her previous employers. She has since paid $183,092.00 to the victims. At her sentencing today, Judge Wojtaszek ordered that she must re-pay the additional $206,094.73.

DA Flynn commends Detective John Payne of the Orchard Park Police Department for his work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit.