Former Comptroller Admits Taking $4.1 Million From Towne Auto Group

Modified: April 3, 2017 11:46am

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3/28/2017

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 55-year-old Billie Becker of East Aurora has pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case. 

Between May 2009 and November 2016, Becker, the former comptroller for the Towne Auto Group, admitted stealing more than 4.1 million dollars from the car dealership by writing company checks to pay for personal bills and wiring money from the company into her personal bank accounts. 

Becker also owes New York State more than $256,000 in taxes on the stolen money. 

Becker claimed she used the money to help care for the Dressage horses she owned and for online video games. 

Becker, who remains free on bail, faces mandatory state prison with a maximum sentence of up to 25 years when she is sentenced by Judge Case on June 13, 2017 at 2 p.m. 

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of the Orchard Park Police Department, including Detective John Payne. 

Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel along with Assistant District Attorney Brian P. Dassero from the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau prosecuted the case.